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U.S. Air Force News

  • Pacific Air Forces commander announces retirement

    Gen. Paul V. Hester, commander, Pacific Air Forces, announced his retirement April 27. His announcement coincides with the Department of Defense naming Lt. Gen. Carrol "Howie" Chandler as the next Pacific Air Forces commander. Gen. Chandler was also nominated for his fourth star. Gen. Hester assumed

  • Pacific Air Forces commander focuses on future

    The commander of Pacific Air Forces spoke with national media members to outline his responsibilities during the 2009 Air Force Association Air & Space Conference and Technology Exposition Sept. 16 at the National Harbor in Oxon Hill, Md. Gen. Gary North discussed his role as the Pacific Air Forces

  • Pacific Air Forces commander thanks Airmen as Cope Tiger 13 concludes

    The commander of Pacific Air Forces met with Airmen from the U.S., Thailand and Republic of Singapore as they joined forces one last time on the flight line during the closing ceremony for Cope Tiger 13 here March 21. "I want to personally thank you for all that you've done. What you've accomplished

  • Pacific Air Forces honors Medal of Honor recipient

    Pacific Air Forces Airmen gathered in the Courtyard of Heroes April 29 here to honor the most recent Medal of Honor recipient.Chief Master Sgt. Richard Etchberger, who saved three of his fellow Airmen's lives before finally succumbing to enemy fire during a classified mission in Laos March 11, 1968,

  • Pacific Air Forces officials host bloggers during exercise

    Rim of the Pacific 2010 exercise participants demonstrated air component capabilities to prominent local bloggers of Hawaii during mission scenarios here July 16.Thirteen bloggers watched as two C-17 Globemaster III crews from the 535th Airlift Squadron at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam dropped

  • Pacific Air Forces receives top safety honor

    Pacific Air Forces is the recipient of the Major General Benjamin D. Foulois Memorial Award in recognition for its flight safety program for the past year.The award was presented to the major command by members of the Order of Daedalians during a ceremony here July 1. To receive the annual flight

  • Pacific Air Forces to deliver aid to China

    Pacific Air Forces Airmen are slated to deliver the first humanitarian aid to the People's Republic of China Sichuan province after an earthquake hit earlier this week. "We offer our sincere condolences to the citizens of the People's Republic of China who have been affected by the recent

  • Pacific Air Forces weather branch hosts multilateral weather talks

    The U.S. Air Force and Japan Air Self-Defense Force signed a Terms of Reference agreement, solidifying weather interoperability relationships between allied nations. The TOR agreement showcases the collaboration of multidomain weather forecasting between partner nations while directly impacting the

  • Pacific Air Forces wins highest AF safety award

    Pacific Air Forces earned the Secretary of the Air Force Safety Award, Feb. 12, recognizing the most effective safety program in the Air Force for fiscal 2012. "Receiving this top safety award is a testament to our professional Airmen, both on and off duty," said Lt. Gen. Stanley Kresge, the PACAF

  • Pacific Air Rally starts in Sri Lanka

    More than 300 military members from the U.S. Air Force, Royal Australian Air Force, Sri Lankan Air Force and Royal Malaysian Air Force gathered together for the start of Pacific Airlift Rally 2011 Aug. 22 here.PAR is a Pacific Air Force sponsored, biennial multilateral tactical military airlift

  • Pacific Airlift Rally 2009 kicks off

    A biennial symposium involving Pacific Rim nations to enhance military airlift interoperability with a focus in humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations kicked off here Aug. 17. Pacific Airlift Rally 2009, co-hosted by the American and Royal Malaysian air forces, includes

  • Pacific Airlift Rally commences

    Pacific Airlift Rally 2007, co-hosted by the U.S. and Indonesian air forces, began Aug. 20 and runs through Aug. 24 at Halim Air Base, Jakarta, Indonesia. Pacific Airlift Rally is a Pacific Air Forces-sponsored military airlift symposium and live-flying exercise for nations of the Pacific Rim. The

  • Pacific Airmen deploy in support of war on terrorism

    Several Pacific Air Forces Airmen left Kadena Air Base, Japan, Jan. 8 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Many of the Airmen are from Kadena's 18th Civil Engineering and Logistics Readiness squadrons. The deployment also included Airmen from Yokota Air Base and Misawa Air Base, Japan. Some of the

  • Pacific allies, partner nations to meet for first Pacific F-35 Symposium

    The F-35 Lightning II will take center stage during the Pacific Air Forces’ inaugural F-35 Symposium next week. The two-day conference will mark the largest gathering of F-35 experts to include senior officers and warfighters from Japan, Australia, South Korea as well as the U.S. Navy, Marine Corps

  • Pacific Angel 15-2 underway in Timor-Leste

    Members of the U.S. Air Force and Navy, Defence Forces of Timor-Leste, and New Zealand army began humanitarian assistance operations as part of Pacific Angel 15-2 Sept. 7, in Baucau, Timor Leste.

  • Pacific Angel 23-3 concludes in Brunei

    Pacific Angel 23-3 Brunei wrapped up at Rimba Air Force Base, Sept.15, after four days of multiple search and rescue and Humanitarian Assistance/Disaster Response training operations.

  • Pacific Angel engineering projects underway in Laoag

    More than 40 Air Force and Armed Forces of the Philippines engineers are conducting operations at the Caaoacan and Apaya Elementary schools here Feb. 14, as part of Operation Pacific Angel 10-1 in Laoag, Philippines.The civil engineers from the United States expressed how excited they were to be in

  • Pacific Angel kicks off in Vietnam

    Airmen and Sailors from bases throughout the Pacific and continental U.S. started Pacific Angel 10-2, a U.S. Pacific Command humanitarian and civic assistance mission, May 9, here. Servicemembers delivered medical supplies to a local elementary school and civic infrastructure improvements began at

  • Pacific Angel making a difference in Tonga

    More than 160 members from seven nations joined forces to provide humanitarian assistance to the citizens of Tonga as part of Operation Pacific Angel-Tonga July 21.

  • Pacific Angel med team gets real-life trauma care education

    With a swing of the axe, Neng Yong Ya's life took a dramatic turn for the worse. The 30-year old Lao farmer was at work, April 24, trying to remove a tree stump from a field when a Vietnam-era unexploded ordnance blew up. The force of the blast threw him, and caused trauma to his chest and stomach.

  • Pacific Angel medical team relocates without missing a beat

    After providing three days of free medical care to more than 1,200 patients at Can Tho, Vietnam, the U.S. military medical team relocated their mission May 13 here as part of Operation Pacific Angel 2010. Medical teams from Vietnam and the U.S. began treating residents in Truong Thanh with free

  • Pacific Angel optometry team provides vision in Vietnam

    Air Force optometrists are making vision a bit clearer for Vietnamese residents during Operation Pacific Angel 2009 Sept. 15 through 24 here. The operation is a joint and combined humanitarian and civic assistance program aimed at improving military civic cooperation between the United States and

  • Pacific Angel participants see continued bilateral cooperation

    A U.S. and Vietnam servicemember-hosted medical clinic concluded three days of centralized free care to Vietnamese patients as part of Operation Pacific Angel 10-2 here May 12. Servicemembers at the Tan Thoi Village Elementary School had cared for more than 1,250 patients in the pediatric, family

  • Pacific Angel-Tonga wraps up

    More than 4,300 patients received care and five schools obtained much needed upgrades as Operation Pacific Angel 14-3, a joint and combined humanitarian mission, closed July 25.

  • Pacific area legal teams train to deploy

    Two dozen experts in military law deployed to this desolate training area on the island of Hawaii Dec. 9 to spend a week sharpening their skills in preparation for upcoming deployments. The Pacific Air Forces-sponsored Pacific Joint Operations Legal Exercise, or PACJOLE, is an annual localized

  • Pacific Command joins Pakistan earthquake relief effort

    U.S. Pacific Command Airmen loaded three C-5 Galaxies with helicopters, support equipment and Soldiers bound to help earthquake victims in Pakistan Oct. 16. The Army CH-47 Chinook helicopters are the first command assets to deploy to earthquake-shattered Pakistan. A C-5 can carry two CH-47

  • Pacific Command strategy centers on partnership, readiness, presence

    The three major tenets of the U.S. Pacific Command strategy -- partnership, readiness and presence -- are having a powerful impact in bringing together the joint, interagency and international capabilities required to promote regional stability, the command's top officer told American Forces Press

  • Pacific conference builds enlisted forces

    Officials from the 13th Air Force hosted a 17-nation conference here this week focusing on aviation safety and mishap prevention. The 13th AF Pacific Rim Airpower Symposium, formerly the PACRIM Director of Operations Conference, brought together representatives from Australia, Bangladesh, Brunei,

  • Pacific Defender builds multi-national security ties

    Andersen Air Force Base hosted a Security Forces Pacific Defender international subject-matter expert exchange, or SMEE, May 19-23, to help build partnerships across the Pacific region and promote interoperability.

  • Pacific Endeavor builds partnerships among Asia-Pacific nations

    Sixteen Asia-Pacific militaries attended the 7th annual Pacific Endeavor at Changi Naval Base, Singapore Aug. 16 through 27. Pacific Endeavor is a humanitarian communication workshop sponsored by the Singapore Armed Forces and U.S. Pacific. At the workshop, military communication technology experts

  • Pacific Lifeline aerial porters keep mission moving

    Logistics planners deployed to Hawaii to participate in the Pacific Lifeline exercise running now through Feb. 9 have been working nonstop to ensure every moving piece of equipment, aircraft and people move smoothly through the airflow system.The team includes members from  the 44th Aerial Port

  • Pacific Lifeline tests humanitarian relief concept

    More than 900 Department of Defense members took part in two weeks of instruction and practical application as part of Pacific Lifeline 2008, which ceased field training exercises Feb. 7 in Hawaii. A total force exercise staged from three locations within the Hawaiian Islands, Pacific Lifeline

  • Pacific medical team provides care in Thailand

    A Pacific Air Forces medical team provided medical and dental care to about 150 Thai men, women and children Jan. 29 in a rural community outside of Korat, Thailand. The medical mission was the first of two Medical Civic Action Programs, or MEDCAP, missions led by the 13th Air Force Surgeon General

  • Pacific mission demonstrates C-5M upgrades

    A C-5M Super Galaxy aircraft from the 22nd Airlift Squadron flew a Pacific channel mission March 4 - 5, 2017, from Travis Air Force Base, California, delivering cargo to Yokota Air Base, Japan.

  • Pacific nations enhance airpower cooperation

    Forty-nine participants from 19 nations met here during the Pacific Rim Airpower Symposium Sept. 4 to 8 to build and enhance cooperation among the air forces of Pacific nations.Co-hosted by the Indonesian Air Force and U.S. Pacific Air Forces' Kenney Headquarters, this year's event included the most

  • Pacific nations meet to enhance airpower cooperation

    Forty-three participants from 17 nations met here for four days of discussion and interaction Sept. 17 to 21during the Pacific Rim Airpower Symposium. PACRIM endeavors to build and enhance cooperation among the air forces of Pacific nations. Hosted by Pacific Air Forces' 13th Air Force, this year's

  • Pacific partners close Cope Tiger with ceremony

    U.S., Thai and Singaporean servicemembers marked the end of Cope Tiger 2010 with a closing ceremony March 12 here.Air Chief Marshal Itthaporn Subhawong, the Royal Thai Air Force commander in chief, served as the host and presided over the ceremony. He was joined by Gen. Gary North, the Pacific Air

  • Pacific partners practice humanitarian assistance during Cope North

    Military members from six nations joined together for a humanitarian assistance and disaster relief deployment throughout the region of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands Feb. 14-18. The deployment is part of Cope North 16, a multilateral exercise, including the U.S. Air Force and air

  • Pacific senior enlisted leaders meet for historic Red Flag-Alaska

    Approximately 2,000 personnel are flying, maintaining and supporting more than 85 aircraft from more than a dozen units during this iteration of Red Flag-Alaska. The majority of participating aircraft are based at, and flying from, JB Elmendorf-Richardson and Eielson Air Force Base.

  • Pacific Thunder gets jump start at Osan AB

    For the fifth straight year, 31st and 33rd Rescue Squadron Airmen from Kadena Air Base, Japan, have teamed up with the 25th Fighter Squadron here to kick off Exercise Pacific Thunder 2012.The two-week exercise, focused entirely on combat search and rescue operations, began Oct. 11 and is scheduled

  • Pacific Unity concludes in Vietnam

    In an effort to foster friendship and improved relationships between the U.S. and Vietnam, more than 60 military civil engineers, construction workers and volunteers from both countries came together Aug. 9-29 to renovate three medical clinics in Ha Tinh Province.The 624th Civil Engineer Squadron

  • Packing a punch for combat power

    Laser and global positioning systems-guided munitions have taken a lot of the guesswork out of bombing so the accuracy and precision of putting bombs on target gets better and better.At the root of that process are weapons loaders. Since the beginning, when someone first strapped a bomb under the

  • Packing to go

    Staff Sgt. Rob Thompson, a radar maintenance technician from the 31st Communications Squadron here, prepares an antenna mast for an upcoming deployment to Sardinia. More than 550 people, 27 aircraft and 569 short tons of cargo will temporarily relocate to Decimomannu Air Base, Sardinia, while

  • Packing up to go

    Staff Sgt. Phillip Roosen (left) and Senior Airman Jason Elsner move a radar unit after it was removed from the tower here Feb. 28. The airmen are assigned to the 728th Air Control Squadron, which received a deployment order to report to Southwest Asia in the next few weeks. The 728th ACS is one of

  • PACOM officials direct distribution of potassium iodide tablets

    As a precautionary measure, U.S. Pacific Command officials directed distribution of potassium iodide tablets March 22 here. Base officials, however, are stressing there is no indication of increased exposure here. "We want everyone who may need the pills to be prepared, whether it's because of

  • PACOM promotes regional cyber capabilities, defenses

    Two years ago, U.S. Pacific Command set out on a big experiment during its Terminal Fury exercise, subjecting participants for the first time to simulated cyber intrusions and network access denials, among other unexpected curve balls the exercise planners threw their way.PACOM's cyber cell, serving

  • Pacom weighs pre-prepositioning logistics for disaster response

    Along with more rotational deployments, U.S. Pacific Command is eyeing opportunities to pre-position some of the logistics assets being drawn down in Afghanistan to support a future disaster response or other contingency in the Asia-Pacific region.U.S. Marines began serving six-month rotational

  • PAF marks milestone, integrates with Air Force AWACS crew

    For the first time in Philippine Air Force history, PAF air battle managers controlled aircraft while airborne by integrating with the U.S. Air Force's 961st Airborne Air Control Squadron as part of exercise Balikatan 2015.

  • Painting honors Tuskegee Airmen

    A painting honoring the famed 332nd Fighter Group of Tuskegee Airmen was unveiled during a ceremony in the Pentagon on June 24.In the painting, artist Mickey Harris depicts then-Lieutenant Luke Weathers at the controls of his P-51 Mustang escorting a damaged B-24 Liberator back to England following

  • Painting squadron pride

    When it comes to taking care of the F-16 Fighting Falcons at Holloman Air Force Base, aircraft structural maintenance technicians have a major responsibility. As corrosion experts, they strip and re-paint F-16 tails -- replacing Luke AFB's "LF" with Holloman's "HO."

  • Pakistan flood aid tops 5 million pounds

    U.S. military aircraft supporting Pakistan's flood relief efforts achieved a significant milestone Sept. 11, exceeding 5 million pounds of relief supplies delivered since U.S. military relief flight operations in Pakistan began Aug. 5.To date, U.S. military helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft have

  • Pakistan gets two upgraded F-16s

    In the early 1980s, the Pakistan air force received its first F-16 Fighting Falcons from the United States. Since then, the maintenance support for the jets has been as unpredictable as world politics. It wasn't until late 2003 that the U.S. government agreed to assess Pakistan's F-16 fleet and

  • Pakistan quake relief funds nearly double

    The Defense Department is nearly doubling its funding for earthquake relief operations in Pakistan -- to $110 million -- State Department officials said Nov. 19. The devastating Oct. 8 earthquake killed an estimated 73,000 people. U.S. Agency for International Development administrator Andrew

  • Pakistan relief

    CHAKALA AIR BASE, Pakistan (AFPN) -- U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Karl Eikenberry thanks Airmen for helping move tons of humanitarian relief supplies through this Pakistani base. Airmen arrived here to set up airlift operations just days after a devastating magnitude 7.6 earthquake devastated parts of this

  • Pakistan relief

    MUZAFFARABAD, Pakistan (AFPN) -- Maj. (Dr.) Fareed Sheikh (left) and his father, Dr. Mushtaq Sheikh, a civilian physician, treat a patient at the 212th Mobile Army Surgical Hospital unit here. Both doctors are Pakistani-Americans. The hospital is helping with earthquake relief operations. (U.S. Air

  • Pakistani Airmen personalize global thanks for support

    Although there were about 300 military and civilian aircraft from around the world on display at the Royal International Air Tattoo held July 15 to 16 at Royal Air Force Fairford, England, none compared with the artful presentation of the Pakistan Air Force C-130. In addition to vivid scenes of

  • Palace Chase, Front offer alternatives to active duty

    Every year, thousands of individuals raise their right hand and commit to serve in the military as either enlisted members or officers. While some choose to serve for many years on active duty, others might elect to leave, but that doesn’t mean they can’t continue serving.

  • Palace HART helps injured Airmen

    A common trait exists among the injured Airmen recuperating at hospitals in the capital region, said the Air Force chief of staff. “Every Airman I’ve met wants to return to active duty and (his or her) unit,” said Gen. T. Michael Moseley in recent testimony on Capitol Hill. “I am proud of them and

  • Palace HART making a difference in the lives of Airmen

    A vehicle operations journeyman by trade, Tech. Sgt. Corey Carter found running convoy security escort missions while deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom to be an exciting change of pace. That was until an encounter with an improvised explosive device Sept. 5, 2004, near Balad, Iraq,

  • Pallet build up contest introduced at Air Mobility Rodeo 2011

    Twenty five Aerial port crews competed in the first Air Mobility Rodeo 2011 pallet build-up contest here July 26 to simulate the high-stress environment of a deployed location. The cargo for the pallet built in the competition was made up of various pre-determined items by event organizers. The

  • Pallet pursuit nets plentiful return

    It is “mission accomplished” for the Airmen of the 455th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron’s pallet and net team. They have returned more than $3.7 million in pallets, nets and other airlift assets to the transportation system in three months.While these assets are supposed to be returned

  • Palmdale detachment takes testing to new heights

    Edwards Air Force Base has a history of testing cutting-edge weapons systems for the Air Force. A little-known detachment at Air Force Plant 42 in Palmdale, Calif., also has a testing history, but the aircraft tested there are not as well-known as the newest Air Force assets. Warner Robins Air

  • Palmetto Challenge trains for Total Force readiness

    More than 100 Airmen from Joint Base Charleston, South Carolina, participated in the Palmetto Challenge, a global mobilization exercise, at McEntire Joint National Guard Base, and Pope Army Airfield, North Carolina, Nov. 16-20.

  • Pals for life

    Senior Airmen Lisa Leonard (left) and Desere Daniel, from the 379th Expeditionary Services Squadron, serve lunch at a forward-deployed location. The two Ohio Air National Guardsmen became best friends in the second grade and have since joined the Girl Scouts together, played on the same sports

  • Pam Tillis rocks Holloman during ‘Spirit of America Tour’

    Country music singer Pam Tillis entertained more than 800 Airmen and their families with a free two-hour concert here July 18.“There’s a lot of feelings and emotions that come from getting to rub shoulders with you guys,” said Miss Tillis, who gave the concert as a part of the Spirit of America

  • Pandemic flu Web site online

    The Defense Department went “live” today with a Web site to help meet the objectives outlined in President George Bush's national strategy for pandemic influenza. The address is: deploymentlink.osd.mil The site offers information about pandemic flu and avian flu. It has a section of frequently asked

  • Panel adds bases for closure, realignment consideration

    The 2005 Base Realignment and Closure Commission voted to add several military installations, including Pope Air Force Base, N.C., to a list for closure or realignment considerations during July 19 hearings here.The previous day, senior Defense Department officials provided testimony before the

  • Panel aims to boost support to special-needs families

    Military families with special-needs members would benefit from better communication and education, members of an exceptional family member panel concluded yesterday."We're working some great programs up at the (office of the secretary of defense) level," said Charles E. Milam, the principal

  • Panel discusses people, command and control, IT

    A panel of senior officers discussed the importance of people, strong command and control, and information technology innovations during the Airlift/Tanker Association convention here Oct. 30.The panel consisted of Gen. John W. Handy, commander of U.S. Transportation Command and Air Mobility

  • Panel discusses post-traumatic stress

    As the frequency and length of military deployments increase, servicemembers and their families are faced with challenges associated with deployment and combat.Building resilience, facilitating recovery and supporting reintegration of returning servicemembers and veterans are important steps in

  • Panel discusses total force integration during AFA

    Former Secretary of the Air Force F. Whitten Peters moderated a panel of senior leaders examining the total force during the Air Force Association Air, Space, and Cyber Conference in National Harbor Sept. 18, 2018. The panel focused on Air Force integration of Guard and Reserve personnel into

  • Panel recommends changes to military retirement

    A panel looking at military compensation has recommended dramatic changes in the military retirement system. The recommendations are part of the second volume put out by members of the 10th Quadrennial Review of Military Compensation. The first volume, released in March, looked at cash compensation.

  • Panel recommends services for wounded vets

    There is a new era of cooperation within the federal government to work together to provide services for troops returning home from Iraq and Afghanistan, Veterans Affairs Secretary Jim Secretary Nicholson told the House Veterans Affairs Committee May 9. Secretary Nicholson reported on

  • Panel recommends ways to improve military diversity

    A commission created to improve diversity among military leaders has issued 20 recommendations its members say will make the military better reflect the composition of the United States in its ranks.The Military Leadership Diversity Commission, created as part of the 2009 National Defense

  • Panel releases academy report

    The blue-ribbon panel investigating sexual misconduct at the Air Force Academy reported Sept. 22 that failures in leadership led to 142 reported cases of sexual abuse in the past 10 years.“We found a deep chasm in leadership during the most critical time in the academy’s history -- one that extended

  • Panel says rescind policy on women in combat

    A commission established to study diversity among military leaders is recommending that Defense Department officials rescind the policy that prevents women from being assigned to ground combat units below the brigade level.In a report issued today, the Military Leadership Diversity Commission