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U.S. Air Force News

  • PACAF key to stability in diverse theater, general says

    The Pacific theater is large, diverse and complicated, but the Airmen of Pacific Air Forces are up to the challenge, according to a senior PACAF leader speaking in Los Angeles Nov. 20. Lt. Gen. Chip Utterback, 13th Air Force commander, kicked off the Air Force Association Global Warfare Symposium

  • PACAF leaders see flash of future in Georgia

    Senior leaders from Pacific Air Forces toured the F-22 Raptor production facility here Aug. 3 and got a look at the command's first 5th-generation fighter aircraft. Raptor 4087, bearing "AK" on its tail, is bound for Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska. It will be the first of 36 Raptors, in two

  • PACAF leads major commands in energy conservation

    Pacific Air Forces officials have seen a 17 percent reduction in energy use from fiscal 2003, well on its way to exceeding the Energy Policy Act of 2005's goal of reducing energy consumption by 2 percent each year from 2006 through 2015 for a total of 20 percent. PACAF had the largest energy use

  • PACAF leads way in Air Force's anthrax vaccine push

    Pacific Air Forces' implementation of the Anthrax Vaccine Immunization Program is off to a good start. Since the program was ordered to resume under the direction of the deputy secretary of defense in October, PACAF has immunized more than 94 percent of its Airmen who have been designated for

  • PACAF names first responders

    Military commanders used to look at a deployment location and ask, “Who’s going in first?” Gen. William J. Begert, Pacific Air Forces commander, answered that question for PACAF by creating the 613th Contingency Response Group here. “We were developed to provide a short-notice, light and lean,

  • PACAF officials address H1N1 as cold, flu season begins

    The cold and flu season has begun including the risk of the H1N1 influenza virus, and officials from military treatment facilities at Pacific Air Forces installations are currently working to ensure that information and vaccinations are available to both military members and their dependents. "We

  • PACAF officials centralize fitness testing

    Airmen across the Pacific Air Forces area of responsibility soon will see a change in their fitness testing procedures as command officials move to centralize the testing under base health and wellness centers by March of 2009. After receiving feedback from across the command, Gen. Howie Chandler,

  • PACAF officials establish warfighting headquarters

    Pacific Air Forces headquarters officials established the George C. Kenney Headquarters (Provisional) here June 1. The newly formed warfighting headquarters will focus exclusively on planning and executing military operations throughout the Pacific theater, excluding the Korean Peninsula. It is

  • PACAF officials look to blogging to tell Air Force story

    Pacific Air Command officials here created a blog called PACAF Pixels in September to allow Airmen across the command to share, in a personal and authentic way, their service experiences.PACAF officials said this is a significant departure from traditional communication in the command, citing the

  • PACAF prepares for Cope North

    Units from the U.S. Air Force and the Japan Air Self Defense Force will take part in the annual Cope North exercise here July 11 to 21.Cope North is a bilateral exercise designed to enhance U.S. and Japanese air operations. It gives pilots from both countries opportunities to conduct training in

  • PACAF receives Air Force maintenance award

    The vice chief of staff of the Air Force presented Pacific Air Forces the Gen. Wilbur L. Creech Maintenance Excellence award Jan 16 at the Pentagon. Gen. Duncan J. McNabb presented the award to Chief Master Sgt. Robert L. Norcross II and Master Sgt. Jeffrey Soots for the more than 10,000 maintainers

  • PACAF receives national award for legal assistance

    A Pacific Air Forces committee designed to increase the legal readiness of PACAF Airmen was recently awarded the Legal Assistance for Military Personnel 2004 Distinguished Service Award.The award recognizes those who display exceptional achievements and service in support of military legal

  • PACAF recognizes support by Japan

    The commander of Pacific Air Forces recognized the mayor of Misawa City for his dedicated service to the U.S.-Japan alliance by presenting him with an Air Force award Jan. 31 in front of approximately 100 civic leaders at city hall here. Gen. Paul V. Hester, the PACAF commander, presented Mayor

  • PACAF releases report on Alaska F-16 squadron move

    Pacific Air Forces today released a report on the Air Force's plan to move people and aircraft associated with the 18th Aggressor Squadron from Eielson AFB near Fairbanks, Alaska, to Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, near Anchorage, Alaska.Pacific Air Forces led a 26-member Site Activation Task Force

  • PACAF releases report on F-16 mishap at Kunsan AB

    Headquarters Pacific Air Forces today released the results of its investigation into a July 29, 2011, ground collision of two F-16CM aircraft at Kunsan Air Base, South Korea. Gen. Gary North, the Pacific Air Forces commander, directed an investigation into the incident. The accident investigation

  • PACAF RQ-4 Global Hawks arrive at Yokota Air Base

    U.S. Pacific Air Forces began positioning RQ-4 Global Hawks at Yokota Air Base, Japan, from Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, to provide theater-wide enduring operations in support of maintaining a free and open Indo-Pacific.

  • PACAF shows off its heritage

    Pacific Air Forces historians arranged for more than fifty works from the U.S. Air Force Art Collection to be on display here this week. The exhibit, featuring paintings pertaining to the Pacific theater rarely seen outside air bases or the Pentagon, was open to the public as part of Air Force Week

  • PACAF specialized medical team conducts first peacetime mission

    Pacific Air Forces deployed the first peace-time, Critical-Care, Air-Transport Team to transfer a critically ill patient from Naval Hospital in Guam, to Tripler Army Medical Center in Hawaii, Nov. 17. The team was alerted and within three hours, boarded a commercial airliner to meet the aeromedical

  • PACAF summer safety campaign most successful in years

    Pacific Air Forces wrapped up the annual 101 Critical Days of Summer safety campaign with no reportable fatalities and an overall decrease of 20 percent in total ground safety mishaps from the same time last year. This year's campaign, themed "I Can Save My Own Life," was the most successful safety

  • PACAF team donates to Thai school

    Pacific Air Forces Airmen, Royal Thai air force members and Republic of Singapore air force military members donated school supplies and equipment Jan. 30 to a local school in a rural village outside of Korat, Thailand. Historically a part of the humanitarian portion of Exercise Cope Tiger, the

  • PACAF to test humanitarian relief response package

    Air Force officials recently developed an innovative, stand-alone humanitarian medical package to support contingency disaster-response efforts. Now, more than ever before, Airmen have the tools and techniques to put the right stuff in the right place at the right time with the Humanitarian Relief

  • PACAF unveils 60th anniversary aloha shirt

    A brightly printed, comfortably casual Hawaiian shirt epitomizes the laid-back culture of the islands. In Hawaii, they're called "aloha shirts," and locals find them appropriate attire for business, pleasure and everything in between. Pacific Air Forces officials wanted a special aloha shirt created

  • PACAF unveils first F-22

    Pacific Air Forces' officials got a glimpse into the future of fighter capability during a tail flash unveiling ceremony here today in which PACAF's first F-22 Raptor was unveiled. The aircraft, which is still under construction, will be the first of 36 F-22s assigned to Elmendorf Air Force Base,

  • PACAF welcomes new command chief

    Chief Master Sgt. Rodney McKinley is the new Pacific Air Forces command chief master sergeant. Chief McKinley serves as the principal consultant to the PACAF commander on all enlisted issues. His responsibilities include keeping the commander apprised of matters concerning the health, morale and

  • PACAF welcomes new commander

    Gen. Kevin B. Schneider took the reins as the new Pacific Air Forces commander during a change of command ceremony at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Feb. 9.

  • PACAF welcomes new commander

    Joining a proud legacy of leaders, Gen. C.Q. Brown Jr. assumed command of Pacific Air Forces during a ceremony here, July 26, 2018.

  • PACAF wins Air Force Defender Challenge

    The U.S. Pacific Air Forces Command came out on top among 14 international security forces teams to win the Air Force Defender Challenge Championship Sept. 10-13 at Joint Base San Antonio-Camp Bullis, Texas.

  • PACAF, allies support Pacific Airlift Rally 23

    Pacific Air Force Airmen returned from Pacific Airlift Rally 23, a multinational, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief exercise involving the U.S., Philippines, Japan, Indonesia and Malaysia air forces at Clark Air Base, Philippines, Aug. 14-18.

  • PACAF, Japan Airmen conduct ISR exchange

    Pacific Air Forces' Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) Airmen visited their Japanese counterparts at Naha and Kadena Air Base, Japan March 11 to 13 to find new ways to enhance ISR bilateral cooperation between the U.S. Air Force and the Koku-jieitai, or Japan Air Self Defense Force.

  • PACAF’s team uses advantage during William Tell

    A pilot checks his radar and looks over his shoulder to see an enemy fighter at his 3 o’clock position. The infrared seeker on the air-to-air missile rotates to the right as the pilot moves his head. He lines up the enemy fighter with the crosshairs on his helmet-visor display and shoots. The

  • PACANGEL 12 kicks off in Vietnam

    Approximately 58 U.S. military members, along with the Vietnam People's Armed Forces and two non-governmental organizations, Project H.O.P.E. and East Meets West, kicked-off Pacific Angel-Vietnam 12 in Nghe An Province, Vietnam, June 11.This iteration of PACANGEL-Vietnam includes humanitarian

  • PACANGEL efforts end in Papua New Guinea

    Pacific Angel 15-4 officially ended June 8 after seven days of civic assistance projects that provided medical care for 3,859 patients, refurbished three schools for 3,000 students and helped two local hospitals overhaul their ability to respond to emergencies.

  • PACANGEL unbound by numbers, helps 3,000 more

    Operation Pacific Angel, an ongoing humanitarian assistance mission conducted throughout the Pacific theater, was recently completed at the first location, Legazpi City, Philippines, for 2012. U.S. forces provided medical and engineering assistance, as well as forums for subject matter expert

  • PACANGEL-Philippines team treats nearly 7,000 patients

    The Operation Pacific Angel-Philippines medical mission officially ended March 9 here with 6,885 patients treated at two medical sites nearby, far exceeding the projected 4,500 mark.Hundreds of patients waited outside a sports and cultural center in Dumaguete seeking treatment on the final day of

  • Pace of changes clouds future, Mullen says

    The pace of changes in the military and in the world has made looking ahead a difficult proposition, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said April 26.Navy Adm. Mike Mullen told members of the Colorado Air National Guard's 140th Wing during a town hall-style meeting at Buckley Air Force Base,

  • Pace team encourages marathoners

    It takes encouragement and a little coaxing to get most people to run for hours and miles on end, but members of the Air Force Marathon Pace Team are vocal supporters for people who endure the annual run at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base.Pace team members run the race while holding a huge time sign

  • Pace team in place to help marathoners reach goals

    The Air Force Marathon pace team will be on-hand to help both first time and experienced marathoners looking to reach their running goals for the Sept. 19 race here. The pace team is a group of experienced marathoners that will lead runners through the entire 26.2 miles of the course at even,

  • Pace thanks troops for supporting war on terror

    The U.S. military’s top-ranking officer visited U.S. and coalition troops in Southwest Asia to thank them for their contributions to the war on terror. Marine Gen. Peter Pace also treated the troops to a USO show and re-enlist three members during his Dec. 28 visit. General Pace kicked off a

  • PACE to forge professional Airmen

    Forging professional Airmen was the focus of Gen. Robin Rand, commander of Air Education and Training Command, as he officiated a ceremony March 11, formally recognizing the Profession of Arms Center of Excellence at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph.

  • Pace: U.S. troop strength in Korea can be cut

    United States troop strength in South Korea can be reduced because of technological advances in military art and lessons learned from combat in Afghanistan and Iraq, the nation's No. 2 military officer said here Oct. 10."I personally believe that the numbers of U.S. troops in Korea can, in fact, be

  • Pace: Debate, discourse not U.S. weaknesses

    No enemy should confuse U.S. debate on the war in Iraq for weakness, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said here Feb. 9.Speaking at a town hall meeting at U.S. Pacific Command here, Marine Gen. Peter Pace said an early or precipitous withdrawal from Iraq would be a disaster for Iraqis and

  • Pace: Military chiefs looking at Iraq options

    Members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff are looking at the whole spectrum of conflict and various options open to them regarding troop deployments, Marine Gen. Peter Pace said here Nov. 29. "Whether it's been reported that we're looking at beefing up or it's reported that we're looking at 'skinnying'

  • Pachyderm PCS: Elephant finds new home courtesy of Air Force

    As the sun crested over the foothills of San Andreas, Calif., and the compound's gate opened, she knew she was home. Maggie, the Alaska Zoo's only elephant, arrived at the Performing Animal Welfare Society's ARK 2000 Wildlife Sanctuary Nov. 2, exiting her crate some 15 hours after leaving

  • Pacific Air Forces Airmen deploy to Japan to aid relief efforts

    A C-17 Globemaster III carrying a team of Pacific Air Force Airmen departed here March 12 to support ongoing disaster relief efforts in Japan. The team of approximately 25 Airmen from a variety of Air Force specialties, traveled to Yokota Air Base, Japan, where they will provide support to efforts

  • Pacific Air Forces Airmen mourn loss of Airman

    Airmen are mourning the loss of a Pacific Air Forces lieutenant killed in action May 20 during Operation Enduring Freedom. First Lt. Roslyn L. Schulte, 25, an intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance operations officer assigned to the 613th Air and Space Operations Center, died May 20 near

  • 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