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U.S. Air Force News

  • Solo mission

    Standing proudly in front of a B-25 Mitchell on display for a recent airshow in the central Texas town of Burnet, retired Lt. Col. Richard Cole slowly walked up to the antique bomber and clutched one of its propeller blades.

  • 'Candy Bomber' delivered chocolate, hope to Berlin

    Seventy years ago, with Adolf Hitler’s crumbled Third Reich still fresh in their memories and Joseph Stalin’s Soviet Union having a choke hold on their future, Berlin’s children were starving.

  • JB Charleston evacuates aircraft, maintains airlift capabilities

    Joint Base Charleston personnel assigned to the 437th Airlift Wing and 628th Air Base Wing began evacuation flights for 24 C-17 Globemaster III aircraft Sept. 11, 2018, in anticipation of Hurricane Florence making landfall. The aircraft and supporting personnel planned and executed flights from

  • Air Force Tech Report

    Getting help to the right location for land rescues in the aftermath of a major hurricane falls to the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center. They’re the single agency responsible for coordinating on-land federal search and rescue activities in the 48 contiguous United States while providing

  • Alaska ANG mobilizes in advance of Hurricane Florence

    Thirty-six Alaska Air National Guardsmen from the 176th Wing, and approximately three short tons of Alaska Air Guard equipment, departed Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson Sept. 12 to assist with emergency response efforts for Hurricane Florence.

  • Hurricane Hunters fly Florence, conduct search and rescue

    Members of the U.S. Air Force Reserve’s 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron assisted the U.S. Coast Guard with a search and rescue mission Sept. 11, locating a white 41-foot Bali sailing catamaran after completing their mission for Hurricane Florence.The vessel was making a trans-Atlantic voyage

  • Air Force, Navy announce their Joint Physiological Episodes Action Team

    The Air Force and Navy announce their Joint Physiological Episodes Action Team, or J-PEAT, Sept. 11 at the Pentagon, Arlington. In a collaborative effort of Force Integration, the Air Force will also rename their Unexplained Physiological Events Integration Team to the AF-PEAT.

  • Passing the torch: Ex-commando inspires youth for special operations

    While most people spend their off time catching up on their favorite shows, playing video games, or catching up on social media, one Reserve Airman and clinical nurse with the 920th Aeromedical Staging Squadron, spends his evenings training the future men and women of special operations.

  • Moody A-10 engine maintainers make history

    For the first time, Moody’s 23rd Maintenance Squadron’s propulsion flight accomplished an unprecedented feat by ensuring every TF34 engine in their fleet is repaired to serviceable status.

  • Augmenting the AOR: Cable Dawgs connect service members to the fight

    Communications, in some shape or form, touch every single part of the Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve mission. From advanced air-strike capabilities to a simple phone call home; a simple fiber cable, often less than .05 millimeters in diameter, can change a missed opportunity

  • UPE Integration Team lead visits Wright-Patt

    Brig. Gen. Edward L. Vaughan, the new Air Force Unexplained Physiological Events Integration Team lead, visited Wright-Patterson Air Force Base Aug. 27 to tour the 711th Human Performance Wing’s Onboard Oxygen Generating System lab and learn how 711HPW is collaborating with Air Force Life Cycle

  • History office plays key role in OCP emblem-to-patch conversion

    Since early recorded history, warring tribes often carried banners or flags marked with emblems to represent factions and motivate their warriors to fight for the cause. It is to this historical tradition that we can trace the evolution of military emblems and patches, said AFMC historian Jack Waid,

  • ANG general to lead UPE Integration Team

    What do unexplained physiological events and a recent promotion have in common? The answer is Edward Vaughan who recently promoted to brigadier general and named by the active-duty component to lead a UPE integration team.

  • AFCENT changes command in historic ceremony

    Lt. Gen. Joseph T. Guastella Jr. assumed command of U.S. Air Forces Central Command from Lt. Gen. Jeffrey L. Harrigian Aug. 30, 2018. Army Gen. Joseph L. Votel, U.S. Central Command commander, presided over the ceremony, which was held at AFCENT’s forward headquarters at Al Udeid Air Base for the

  • Why I serve: The Kalkbrenner family

    As of 2017, approximately two million people currently serve in the U.S. military with millions of veterans serving before them in the several hundred year history of the country’s armed forces. All of these service members chose to don their respective service’s uniform for varying reasons. Many

  • Chill, cryogenics has what you need

    Providing the base and various other units on the island with cryogenic products – whether it be in a liquid or gaseous form – is the plant’s priority.

  • AFTAC helps break the 'STEM mold'

    In 1976, esteemed historian and author Laurel Thatcher Ulrich wrote a book entitled, “Well-Behaved Women Seldom Make History.” The premise of her work was to shine a light on famous women throughout history who challenged the way things were done. While the title may seem to be a modern-day rallying

  • USAF supports premier RAF exercise

    The U.S. Air Force’s 492nd Fighter Squadron sent several F-15E Strike Eagles to support the Royal Air Force’s premier air combat training exercise, Typhoon Warrior, Aug. 14-23, at RAF Coningsby, England.

  • Advanced training prepares boom operators for future

    Within the past year, KC-10 Extender boom operators have been receiving cutting-edge, three-dimensional simulator training and life-size cargo load training that benefits the boom operator career field around the world.

  • Passing the guidon: Ray takes command of AFGSC

    Gen. Timothy Ray took command of Air Force Global Strike Command from Gen. Robin Rand, outgoing AFGSC commander, during a ceremony, Aug. 21. He is the newest leader of the Air Force’s portion of the nuclear enterprise, which maintains the nation's only force of Minuteman III intercontinental

  • Big Brother finds enrichment in giving back

    He was only 3 years old when he unexpectedly lost his father to a heart attack in 1986. Although too young to understand how to grieve for his dad, Richard Cooper’s life changed in an instant.

  • Exercise Pitch Black 2018 strengthens alliances

    Exercise Pitch Black 2018 is a Royal Australian Air Force-hosted biennial multinational large force employment exercise held from July 27 through Aug. 17. This year’s event, the largest since its inception, involves 16 nations, 140 aircraft and more than 4,000 personnel – approximately 150 of which

  • The ART of training the total force

    In July, the 480th Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Wing’s ART held a Total Force Integration Conference at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, allowing ART members from throughout the geographically separated Wing to connect for three days with over 160 peers from other services and nations,

  • SecAF visits F.E. Warren

    Secretary of the Air Force Heather Wilson visited with Airmen at the 90th Missile Wing and 20th Air Force, Aug. 7 through 8 at F.E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyoming.

  • Around the Air Force: Aug. 10

    On this look Around the Air Force, exemptions are announced for the new deployment policy, Airmen at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base celebrate the full operational capability of the only human-rated centrifuge in the DoD, and a KC-46 pilot selection board meets later this year. Hosted by Staff Sgt.

  • Revitalizing squadrons, Air Force outlines progress

    The task force conducted an Air Force-wide review, driven by Airmen in the field, to promote best practices and identify improvements. Consisting of Total Force Airmen from diverse backgrounds, they reviewed survey data and gathered inputs from across the Air Force through on-line crowd sourcing and

  • Aircrew practice Mayday over water

    More than 30 Airmen participated in water survival training at Patrick Air Force Base, Florida, August 4th, to hone the skills needed in an emergency water landing.

  • Pawlikowski tenure marked by effectiveness, Air Force readiness

    Gen. Ellen M. Pawlikowski will retire from the Air Force in September following 40 years of service. As only the third femalefour-star general in the history of the Air Force, Pawlikowski’s career was marked by extraordinary achievements across the science and engineering domains.

  • Galaxy wraps upgrades to become C-5M Super Galaxy

    The first flight of the Lockheed Martin C-5 Galaxy took place on June 30, 1968, with an audience including President Lyndon Johnson. Now, 50 years later, the Super Galaxy is still going strong.

  • Flying training reimagined as first PTN class graduates

    The Air Force’s pilot training landscape took a significant step forward in reimagining how Airmen learn to fly as 13 students from the first iteration of Pilot Training Next pinned on their silver wings in a ceremony Aug. 3, at the Armed Forces Reserve Center, Austin, Texas.

  • Hill AFB Airmen, aircraft progress together as F-35A program matures

    Two years after the Air Force declared initial operational capability for the F-35A Lightning II, pilots and maintainers at Hill Air Force Base’s active duty 388th and reserve 419th Fighter Wings are steadily erasing the word “initial” from in front of “operational capability.”

  • Air Force charts course for next generation ISR dominance

    Today the Air Force released the Next Generation Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Dominance Flight Plan, an encompassing strategy about how the service maintains and enhances decisive advantage amidst the reemergence of great power competition and rapid technological change in the

  • Around the Air Force: Aug. 2

    On this look Around the Air Force, 16 years after making the ultimate sacrifice Tech. Sgt. John A. Chapman will be posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor and Pacific Air Forces welcomes a new commander. Hosted by Staff Sgt. Nicholas Koetz.

  • Around the Air Force: July 30

    On this look Around the Air Force, the Air Force has a new app for Airmen, KC-135 crews test out the Joint Service Aircrew Mask, and the 943rd Rescue Squadron wins Best in Show at the 2018 Royal International Air Tattoo. Hosted by Airman 1st Class Marqus Williams.

  • Airman posthumously receives Medal of Honor

    The White House announced July 27, 2018, that Air Force Tech. Sgt. John Chapman will be posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor Aug. 22, for his extraordinary heroism during the Battle of Takur Ghar, Afghanistan, in March 2002.

  • 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.

  • Around the Air Force: July 26

    FORT GEORGE G. MEADE, Md. (AFNS) – On this look Around the Air Force, F-22 pilots practice firing live missiles during exercise Combat Archer. Air Mobility Command is accepting applications for active-duty mobility pilots to pioneer a new aviator technical track program, and the Joint Space

  • SecAF Wilson returns to RAF Mildenhall, discusses innovation, strategy

    When then 2nd Lt. Heather Wilson joined the Air Force in 1985, her very first assignment was to the 3rd Air Force at RAF Mildenhall. Now, Secretary of the Air Force Wilson returned to RAF Mildenhall July 12, to learn about the new innovations the Airmen have since created, and to speak about the

  • International rescue effort saves trapped soccer team

    Twelve boys ranging from age 11 to 16, along with their soccer coach, found themselves stranded in a cave in Thailand’s Chiang Rai province, June 23, 2018. After 17 days entrapment, an international rescue team successfully ended a nearly 3-week operation.

  • Air Force Tech Report: Pilot Training Next

    The Air Force is searching for new ways to train pilots more efficiently and quickly. Leveraging virtual and augmented reality is a key part of the experimental Pilot Training Next program. It’s an effort that could help streamline the Air Force effort to quickly get qualified pilots in the air.

  • CSAF praises Airmen, mission at Aviano

    The Air Force Chief of Staff spent the day with Wyvern Warriors to get a first-hand look at how Aviano Air Base, Italy, directly deters adversaries and defends the U.S. and its allies.

  • SecAF, DoD, industry leaders share stage at 2018 AFITC

    Secretary of the Air Force Heather Wilson and the service’s new assistant secretary for acquisitions, technology and logistics, Dr. Will Roper, are two of the military keynote speakers sharing the stage with industry leaders at this year’s Air Force Information Technology and Cyberpower Conference.

  • From nothing to something – Cargo City takes shape

    Construction is nearly complete on ‘Cargo City,’ a new operating location for U.S. and coalition forces to conduct aerial port operations in Kuwait. This aerial port will continue to serve as a major-military logistics point, and also functions as the largest aerial port of debarkation in the Middle

  • Life-saving act molds Airman’s future

    Three years ago, Tech. Sgt. Julian Tayag was closing the pharmacy for the duty day with his wingman when tragedy nearly struck. Three years later, this event would culminate in his acceptance into the Interservice Physician Assistant Program.

  • Air Force Widow vows to bring awareness to invisible wounds

    Air Force veteran Stacey Pavenski, 46, of Palm Bay, Florida, has post traumatic stress disorder, but she didn’t get it from serving in combat. It came from her husband’s combat struggles that drove him to take his own life in their bedroom, Sept. 18, 2017, while she was in the kitchen. He was 45.

  • AFCENT A1 gives time back to pre-deploying Airmen

    The U.S. Air Forces Central Command’s Manpower, Personnel and Services Directorate (A1) began the second phase of decreasing pre-deployment requirements for Airmen preparing to enter AFCENT’s area of responsibility. AFCENT Deployment Streamlining version 2.0 was released and became effective June

  • 633rd MDSS tests new Expeditionary Medical Systems equipment

    The Air Combat Command Surgeon General Office partnered with representatives from the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center to conduct an exercise testing new joint expeditionary collective protection tent systems at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia, June 20, 2018.

  • SecAF Wilson talks Air Force innovation across JBSA, Austin

    Secretary of the Air Force Heather Wilson visited AFWERX-Austin, Pilot Training Next and Joint Base San Antonio June 27-29 to see firsthand the focus Airmen in the area are placing on improving readiness, cost-effective modernization and developing exceptional leaders.

  • Determined to make a better life

    Growing up in Gilroy, California, she had everything a girl could wish for: money, designer clothes and so much more. Shortly after high school graduation, her father took everything from her and kicked her to the streets.

  • Sweet lessons: 70th anniversary of the Berlin Airlift

    The end of World War II brought on a new, different conflict - a cold war. An immediate battleground became the divided country of Germany. The Allies divided the defeated Germany with the French, British and Americans taking the western half of the nation spreading the ideals of democracy, and the