NATO Air Policing operations

U.S. Air Force News

  • Thunderbirds show season to resume at JBLE

    Gen. Mike Holmes, Air Combat Command commander, has authorized the resumption of Thunderbird performances starting at Air Power Over Hampton Roads at Joint Base Langley-Eustis May 19 to 20, 2018.

  • Air Force soars during 2018 National High School Drill Team Championships

    The nation’s top Junior ROTC cadets traveled to Daytona Beach, Florida, May 4-6, for the 2018 National High School Drill Team Championships.The high school students showcased their skills in both armed and unarmed categories in front of judges and military training instructors from all branches of

  • Around the Air Force: May 16

    On this look around the Air Force, Air Force leaders announced the move to the Operational Camouflage Pattern, or OCP, and the 80th Flying Training Wing at Sheppard AFB, Texas, developed a new way to help student pilots succeed. Hosted by Airman 1st Class Angelo Rosario.

  • Embedded care teams work to improve Airman resiliency

    For Airmen at the 363rd Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Wing, stress is an occupational hazard. Pressing deadlines, a heavy workload and constant pressure are requirements of the mission.They are also one of a growing number of units combating those stressors with an embedded care

  • Check your ego at the door, be your own advocate

    Master Sgt. James Stalnaker always thought going to mental health was a deal breaker for your career; that mental issues make you a weaker person. It took encountering struggles of his own to change those views.

  • Air Force transitions to a single combat uniform

    Air Force leaders announced the service will move to a single combat utility uniform, adopting the Operational Camouflage Pattern, or OCP, already in use by the Army and Airmen in combat zones and in certain jobs across the Air Force.

  • Around the Air Force: May 11

    On this look around the Air Force, Secretary of the Air Force Heather Wilson signs a letter of intent to partner with the National Science Foundation and an expert from the Headquarters Air Education and Training Command visited the 58th Special Operations Wing at Kirtland Air Force Base, New

  • NATO provides "eye in the sky" for Red Flag

    The air war is underway at Red Flag-Alaska 18-1. But fifty miles southwest and ten thousand feet above the dog fighting, a NATO E-3A Component jet circles in its flight pattern, soaking up signals and squawks about the fluid battle space below and providing friendly forces a watchful "eye in the

  • Kessel Run hits hyperdrive

    Thirty active duty Airmen, Air Force civilians and contractors gathered in a shared workspace downtown May 7, 2018, for the opening of the Kessel Run Experimentation Lab, where they will build the next generation of combat software.

  • RAF, RSAF observe Cerberus Strike

    Distinguished visitors from the United Kingdom’s Royal Air Force and the Royal Saudi Air Force visited Travis Air Force Base April 26 through May 2, 2018, to get a first-hand experience of the 821st Contingency Response Group capability to provide expeditionary mobility support.

  • Air Force CTCS’s win DoD combat camera titles

    Teams from Joint Base Charleston’s Combat Camera Total Force Initiative squadrons took two of the top three placings at the 2018 Specialist Hilda I. Clayton Best Combat Camera Competition. Four teams of two from the active duty 1st Combat Camera Squadron and the reserve 4 CTCS participated in the

  • Iraqi Air Force aerial porters load cargo like the best

    In a small office space at Al Muthana Air Base, U.S. Air Force 370th Air Expeditionary Advisory Group air advisors and Iraqi airmen enjoy a small cup of tea together. Iraqi Air Force Col. Yossif Halo, the base air terminal operations center commander, sits with the team and casually highlights the

  • Around the Air Force: May 4

    On this look around the Air Force, a C-130 Hercules crash is being investigated, medical Airmen get real world experience in Panama, and Air Mobility Command holds their biannual Phoenix Rally Summit.

  • New Horizons Embedded Health Engagement provides unparalleled training

    As with most tasks, hands-on education remains one of the most effective training methods for both learning and maintaining skills. For some medical professionals participating in Exercise New Horizons 2018, hands-on training comes in the form of fully submerging into local clinics.

  • Reserve Airmen earn Rescue Mission of the Year award

    Thirty-three 920th Rescue Wing Reserve Airmen were recently honored with the 2017 Jolly Green Association Rescue Mission of the Year award for their actions July 7, 2017 in saving two German sailors stranded in the Atlantic Ocean approximately 500 miles off the coast of Florida.

  • EOD revamps physical training regimen

    “(Physical training) for them was getting ‘smoked every day,’” said Staff Sgt. Shawn Briggs, 366th Training Squadron explosive ordnance disposal preliminary course instructor.

  • C-130 crashes in Georgia

    While performing a training mission, a U.S. C-130 Hercules cargo plane from the Puerto Rico Air National Guard crashed about 11:30 a.m. May 2, 2018, near the Savannah Hilton Head International Airport with five people on board. Personnel are on the scene responding. A board of officers will

  • Little guy, big fixed heart: part II

    When Ashley and Tech. Sgt. Ben Mockovciak, 372nd Training Squadron Detachment 202 F-16 tactical aircraft maintenance instructor, learned their son Noah, barely one month old, had experienced a heart attack, their world was turned upside down.

  • Little guy, big fixed heart: part I

    When Ashley and Tech. Sgt. Ben Mockovciak learned they would soon be parents, they were overwhelmed with the exciting idea of welcoming a healthy, beautiful child into their family.

  • Air Force ramps up flying ICU teams

    When the U.S. military needs to transport critically injured patients by air, it calls on Air Force Critical Care Air Transport Teams. The Air Force is increasing CCATT capabilities to meet the needs of the warfighter.

  • High School to Flight School

    Officials at Air Force Reserve Command headquarters, Robins Air Force Base, Georgia, are hoping an innovative new program will help the command meet its need for flight engineers.

  • Minot rescue crew saves man trapped from flood

    Members of the 54th Helicopter Squadron at Minot Air Force Base responded to a search and rescue call involving a man trapped in his cabin surrounded by rising flood water in Savage, Montana, March 24, 2018.

  • Around the Air Force: April 30

    On this look Around the Air Force, Secretary of the Air Force Heather Wilson testifies before the Senate Armed Services Committee for the 2019 Fiscal Budget, the 911thAirlift Wing switches to C-17s, humanitarian cargo is delivered to Guatemala, and Guard and Reserve Airmen train for wildfire

  • Strength in recovery: victim becomes advocate

    It was not the 21st birthday she was expecting. She got off of work at midnight, and her coworker asked her if she wanted to celebrate. Tired, but still wanting to have some fun, she agreed.

  • AF announces changes to Courses 14 and 15

    Effective immediately, Air Force officials have removed the requirement to complete Courses 14 and 15 for all Airmen serving in the active component. Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve Airmen will have the option to complete their enlisted professional military education through distance

  • Yesterday's Air Force: Airman Astronauts

    The U.S. Air Force helped propel America to the moon. Across several decades, Airmen have participated in the training, planning and flying of rockets and shuttles and even the International Space Station. The Air Force has played a vital role in the NASA's astronaut mission.

  • WPC executes milestone Air Force-Army integration exercise

    United States Air Forces in Europe and Air Forces Africa’s Warrior Preparation Center held exercise Spartan Shield 18-6, April 12-19, 2018. Spartan Shield was a simulated air and missile defense exercise and included members from the 134th Air Control Squadron; 10th Army Air and Missile Defense

  • Air Guard, Reserve wings kick off annual MAFFS training

    As temperatures heated up in northern California, aerial firefighters from four C-130 airlift wings operating the U.S.D.A. Forest Service’s Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System, or MAFFS, started a weeklong training April 23, 2018, in anticipation of summer blazes.

  • Airman to attend medical degree prep

    Staff Sgt. Shane Berger, airborne linguist with the 755th Operational Support Squadron, was one of nine enlisted Airmen selected to attend a medical degree preparatory course.

  • 621st CRW Airmen enable Rapid Global Mobility during JRTC exercise

    Airmen from the 621st Contingency Response Wing stationed at Travis Air Force Base, California, conducted joint training with Soldiers from the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, to provide direct air-land support for safe and efficient airfield operations during the Joint Readiness

  • OTS: ‘The assignment I never knew I needed’

    Sometimes there are things in life that happen to you that are so unexpected that you fail to comprehend their inherent value. Such was the case for me in my assignment to Officer Training School.

  • Airman’s dream becomes reality through Career Intermission Program

    Former Tech. Sgt. Travis Barrino from Morven, North Carolina, always felt a calling to be a pastor. As an active-duty chaplain’s assistant, however, he didn’t have the necessary education and experience qualifications for his dream job--to be a chaplain in the U.S. Air Force.

  • Service Dog lends war veteran a helping paw

    While searching online for answers or others who might be going through the same problems, Jones found the link to a website for service dogs. He reached out to Carol Borden, founder and executive director of Guardian Angels Medical Service Dogs in Williston, Florida, hoping he could find the answer

  • AETC conducts first-ever squadron command team course

    Air Education and Training Command conducted its first-ever Squadron Command Team and Spouses Course April 10-13, 2018, with 45 current or incoming commanders, 15 superintendents and 29 spouses participating in the new program.

  • 387th ESFS: Strengthening international bonds through security training

    Over the past few months, the 387th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron has taken great strides to increase joint security operations through host nation cooperation at Abdullah Al-Mubarak Air Base, where a large-scale, temporary cargo facility is currently under construction.

  • JB Charleston trains ANG to be globemasters

    The first of four C-17 Globemaster IIIs was transferred from Joint Base Charleston to the Charlotte Air National Guard, N.C. April 7, 2018 as part of a congressional mandate.Through this directive Joint base Charleston will send 16 C-17s to four Air National Guard bases.

  • Around the Air Force: April 11

    On this look around the Air Force, the Thunderbird pilot in the F-16 Fighting Falcon crash is identified, Airmen participated in an African partnership flight in Senegal, and the Air Force is analyzing unexplained physiological events with the T-6 Texan training platform.

  • Safety perspective has allowed Human Systems Integration program to thrive

    When Maj. Shawnee Williams arrived at the Human Systems Integration Directorate, part of the Air Force Research Laboratory’s 711th Human Performance Wing here, she found herself in unfamiliar territory and facing an operationally misunderstood program. So she looked at the programmatics of her

  • VCSAF highlights speed, innovation as keys to victory in future war

    Vice Chief of Staff of the Air Force Gen. Stephen Wilson emphasized Airmen will continue leading the way in preparing for the future of war and highlighted the importance of speed, connectivity and innovation during the 2018 Future of War Conference April 9, 2018, in Washington, D.C.

  • Stop The Bleed

    Everybody has the capacity to help somebody. That singular concept is the launching point for the “Stop the Bleed” campaign, a joint effort between the federal agencies and civilian organizations in response to Presidential Policy Directive 8. It is designed to build national resilience by

  • SecAF stresses Hanscom importance at town hall

    Secretary of the Air Force Heather Wilson emphasized the priorities demanded by the new National Defense Strategy and Hanscom Air Force Base’s vital role in meeting them during a town hall here April 5, 2018.

  • Cadets learn about their Pathway to Blue

    Second Air Force held their fourth annual “Pathways to Blue” initiative with more than 280 ROTC cadets representing 15 different colleges and universities here, April 6-7.Throughout the two-day event, ROTC cadets and enlisted personnel traveled through this diverse and inclusive event to better aim

  • Thunderbirds pilot identified

    U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron Slot Pilot Thunderbird 4, Maj. Stephen Del Bagno, was killed when his F-16 Fighting Falcon crashed over the Nevada Test and Training Range April 4, 2018, at approximately 10:30 a.m. during a routine aerial demonstration training flight.

  • Thunderbirds aircraft mishap

    A U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds pilot was killed when his F-16 Fighting Falcon crashed over the Nevada Test and Training Range April 4, 2018, at approximately 10:30 a.m. during a routine aerial demonstration training flight. The identity of the pilot is being withheld for 24-hours pending next of kin

  • Revitalizing squadrons: A commander's perspective

    Over the course of a 20 year career, I have experienced some challenges at the squadron level due to decisions made by higher headquarters staff personnel that have negatively impacted squadrons or go against what a commander might think is best for their squadron.

  • Air Force offers several paths from stripes to bars

    Our military offers many opportunities for military members to receive world class training that prepares them for a future in the military with skills and educational benefits that also prepare them for the civilian workforce. We ensure service members have the expertise and skills they need to

  • Women of Weather: Hurricane Hunters make a difference

    Those goals became reality for Maj. Ashley Lundry, an aerial reconnaissance weather officer, and Maj. Devon Meister, a pilot, both members of the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron, referred to as the Hurricane Hunters, a unit in the 403rd Wing at Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi.

  • Air Force officer integrates with carrier operations

    Air Force 1st Lt. Sean Duval, 33rd Maintenance Squadron maintenance operations officer, participated in a maintenance officer exchange program March 16-22, 2018 aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72).

  • U.S. SOF conduct winter warfare training in Sweden

    U.S. Air Force Special Operations Forces assigned to the 352nd Special Operations Wing and U.S. Army Special Forces assigned to 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne) conducted an Arctic Winter training course from February to March 2018.

  • Ops support assists with KC-135 mission during Red Flag 18-2

    Airmen from the 92nd Operations Group from Fairchild Air Force Base, Washington, 6th OG from MacDill AFB, Florida and 931st Operations Support Squadron from McConnell AFB, Kansas, flew to Nellis AFB in support of the KC-135 Stratotankers’ role in exercise Red Flag 18-2.

  • 2018 U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School applications due May 27

    Test pilots aren’t born; they're trained to be the best of the best by the USAF Test Pilot School. The TPS selection board is accepting applications until May 27, 2018 from eligible Total Force officers and current Air Force civilians

  • Air University aims to spark innovation, collaboration with MGMWERX

    Air University has long been considered the leadership-development center for the Air Force, and it continues its 72-year-long legacy with a new joint venture, named MGMWERX, in collaboration with the City of Montgomery, Montgomery County and the Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce, to encourage

  • JBLE Airman overcomes struggle by paying it forward

    U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Michael Svoleantopoulos, 497th Operations Support Squadron weapons tactician, returned from the U.S. Air Force Pararescue Indoctrination Course much sooner than he anticipated. Svoleantopoulos spent the previous three years mentally and physically training for his goal to

  • 19th Air Force experts transform flying training syllabi

    Maj. Gen. Patrick Doherty, 19th Air Force commander, asked his team to deliver a redesigned Undergraduate Pilot Training syllabi “that embraced common sense and held ideas from the leaders and instructor corps to produce more pilots, higher quality pilots with agility and speed.” The homework

  • Test pilot briefs T-6 nation

    An F-16 Fighting Falcon’s sustained 9 g-force break turn is no small matter on a normal day. Imagine yourself there. Your head weighs 180 pounds and your arms are pinned to the stick and throttle; let go of your breath the wrong way, and you watch the world fade from gray to black in an instant. Now

  • First-ever blood test for detecting brain injury cleared by FDA

    Brain injuries can happen from a fall, while in combat or during training exercises. Thanks in part to research funded by the Defense Department and the Army, Banyan Biomarkers has created the first-ever brain trauma blood test. On Feb. 14, 2018, the Food and Drug Administration cleared marketing of

  • Airmen participate in joint rescue mission

    Rescue Airmen from the 23rd Wing recently participated in a joint rescue operation alongside other Air Force and Marine Corps assets, approximately 675 nautical miles off the coast of California.

  • National Defense Strategy drives Air Force budget

    Secretary of the Air Force Heather Wilson and Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David L. Goldfein testified before the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Appropriations about the Air Force’s fiscal year 2019 budget in Washington, D.C., March 14, 2018.

  • Airman earns medal for rescuing double amputee from flood

    In total darkness, with temperatures only in the high 30s and in the midst of a monstrous rainstorm, Tech. Sgt. Phillip Dyer waded into rapidly-moving, chest-deep-and-rising waters to save a trapped flood victim on the verge of hypothermia and drowning.

  • CMSAF Wright gives all call at Peterson AFB

    Airmen arrived early to fill the base auditorium seats at Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado, for an all call with Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force Kaleth O. Wright, March 6, 2018.