NATO Air Policing operations

U.S. Air Force News

  • Quality Assurance: making sure it’s done right

    Going the extra step to ensure things are done the right way is what the Air Force is about. This precaution is pertinent to Airmen’s safety and the Air Force’s mission.The 380th Expeditionary Maintenance Group Quality Assurance team is responsible for serving as the primary technical advisory

  • Quality of life improving at Kirkuk

    Airmen supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom here will leave their dusty tents for the last time when new modular dormitories open.The dorms, scheduled to open Dec. 1, will house up to 1,664 airmen in 13 buildings with six to eight people to a room.The construction project is moving rapidly, said Lt.

  • Quality of life to improve for 386th AEW Airmen

    In the upcoming months, the Airmen of the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing will see some changes beginning that will affect their long-term quality of life in Southwest Asia. The slated removal of the 114 war reserve material tents and generator power infrastructure will not only improve the quality of

  • Quality-of-life survey results are in

    The results of the 2002 Chief of Staff Quality-of-Life Survey have been compiled and show an increase in satisfaction with the Air Force as a job and way of life, survey officials said.The survey, sent to more than 100,000 active-duty airmen and civilian employees in September, included questions

  • Quarterly assignment listing available

    The Enlisted Quarterly Assignment Listing for people returning from overseas May through July will be available Jan. 13.Individuals need to work through their military personnel flights to update their preferences since the update process is not yet totally automated, according to Air Force

  • Quarterly assignment listing available

    The enlisted quarterly assignment listing for airmen returning from overseas July through September 2004 is now available.Airmen need to work through their military personnel flights to update their preferences by Nov. 20, said officials at the Air Force Personnel Center here. The airmen will be

  • Quarterly assignment listing available

    The Enlisted Quarterly Assignment Listing for people returning from overseas May through July will be available Jan. 13.Individuals should contact their military personnel flights to update their preferences by Jan. 30, said officials at the Air Force Personnel Center here. Airmen will be notified

  • Quarterly assignment listing available in July

    The Enlisted Quarterly Assignment Listing, or EQUAL, will be available July 11 for Airmen returning from overseas and for continental United States mandatory movers from November through January 2007. Airmen need to work through their military personnel flight or their commander's support staff to

  • Quarterly assignment listing now available

    The Enlisted Quarterly Assignment Listing for April to June 2005 overseas requirements is now available.Individuals need to work through their military personnel flights to update their preferences by Aug. 19. Airmen will be notified of their selection by mid-September, said Air Force Personnel

  • Quarterly overseas assignment listing available

    The Enlisted Quarterly Assignment Listing for overseas assignments for the July to September 2003 cycle will be available Nov. 4.Individuals need to work through their military personnel flights to update their preferences by Nov. 21. Airmen will be notified of their selection by Dec. 9, said

  • Quarterly overseas enlisted assignment listing available

    The Enlisted Quarterly Assignment Listing for overseas assignments is now available for the April to June 2003 cycle.The deadline for updating assignment preferences is Aug. 22. Airmen will be notified of their selection by Sept. 9.EQUAL advertises upcoming assignment requirements by Air Force

  • 'Que Bien' Air Force Week

    The Air Force showcased its assets, capabilities and Hispanic Airmen during Air Force Week to 15 countries around the world March 21-22. Univision reporter Tony Dandrades of "Primer Impacto," a nationally televised, 60-minute Spanish-language news program, told the Air Force story during his time at

  • Quest for perfection: Airman strives for flawless execution

    It’s a sport in which a fraction of an inch could mean the difference between a first place finish or dropping 30 spots. Competitive rifle shooting requires patience, accuracy and control. Lt. Col. Mark Gould started the sport more than 23 years ago and he has been pulling the trigger ever since.

  • Questions abound in cyber theater of operations, vice chairman says

    Cyber operations simply are another theater of operations for the U.S. military, and the Defense Department must apply the same analytical rigor and resources to it as it would to any other theater, the vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said recently. "There will be a cyber capability at

  • Quick action at fitness center saves man's life

    March 9 is a day that will forever be etched in Elmer Bicoy's mind.Not because he was winning a racquetball match like usual, but because the 69-year-old suffered a cardiac arrest and nearly lost his life while playing a game at a fitness center here.Mr. Bicoy was preparing to serve the ball to

  • Quick actions save Airman's life

    "I really don't recall what happened," the 19-year-old Airman said. "One moment, I was playing dodgeball and the next thing I knew was I was (in the medical clinic) and they were sticking needles and things in me." Airman 1st Class James Garrett, a 376th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron fire

  • Quick hire of military spouses starts in September

    Under a personnel rule that takes effect Sept. 11, some military spouses could be quickly hired for federal jobs without going through the usual competitive process. Officials from the Office of Personnel Management here issued the authority's final regulatory guidelines Aug. 12, which are posted in

  • Quick recognition, action saves C-130 aircrew, Soldiers

    A C-130 Hercules crew rapidly and correctly analyzed a developing situation, applied emergency procedures and recovered an aircraft, its passengers and crew without incident after encountering unforeseen wind shear May 20 in Southwest Asia. The 737th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron C-130 and its

  • Quick thinking earns Airman Distinguished Flying Cross

    An A-10 Thunderbolt II pilot was presented the Distinguished Flying Cross during a ceremony here Sept. 30.Maj. Ryan Hayde was presented the medal by Brig. Gen. Terrence O'Shaughnessy, the 57th Wing commander, for his actions during his recent deployment to Afghanistan."It's an honor to receive such

  • Quilting for a cause

    Natalie Veum’s life was progressing at a normal clip. She was young, happily married and working a full-time job she enjoyed.But in the course of one night, her life changed forever.It started when the 24 year old woke with a coldness on her right side, which a series of MRIs, spinal taps and

  • Quilts of Valor comfort complex wartime emotions

    In 2003 Catherine Roberts, a midwife by profession and quilter for 25 years from Seaford, Del., wanted to give a wounded Soldier a quilt to bring him comfort during his recovery. "We are a nation at war," Ms. Roberts said. "Warriors need something tangible, a physical representation of love, support

  • RAAF leader strengthens partnership, joins PACAF as deputy commander

    As PACAF’s Australian Deputy Commander, or DCOM as known in Air Force vernacular, Air Vice-Marshal Newman works alongside U.S. Air Force DCOM counterpart, Lt. Gen. James Jacobson, to assist management of the command and help lead a force of nearly 46,000 people across the Indo-Pacific.

  • Rabbi uses Iraq trip to help shape AF vision, values

    Iraq was one of the first places the new adviser on Air Force values and vision went to see how Airmen apply their guiding principles in a wartime environment.Rabbi Arnold E. Resnicoff, special assistant for values and visions to the secretary of the Air Force and the chief of staff, traveled to

  • Racking up miles: Incirlik Airman cycles for AF

    The air is crisp like the frost on the ground; winter is approaching as Senior Master Sgt. Jason Chiasson hops onto his sleek road bike. Today he will only ride 25 miles, a short day compared to the 100-mile days in his strict training schedule as an Air Force Cycling Team cyclist.

  • Radar bound for Bagram will help pilots avoid birds

    A trailer with antennas and wires temporarily parked on base awaiting transit to Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, might not look like much, but it could save the military lives and money when it gets shipped later this spring. The trailer contains a Merlin Aircraft Birdstrike Avoidance Radar System

  • Radar site techs: First line of defense 24/7, 365

    At the narrowest part of the Bering Strait, where the North American and Asian land masses meet in a virtually uninhabited area, sits a vital, yet relatively unknown, asset that is the first line of homeland defense for the United States and Canada -- the Tin City Long Range Radar Site.

  • Radar survey team uses innovation for faster surveys

    As the nation’s only long-range radar evaluation unit, the 84th RADES mission is to monitor, evaluate and optimize long-range radars located across the United States, ensuring perimeter security of the borders and within the country.

  • Radar techs keep combat zone airspace safe

    The sky over here is filled with aircraft around the clock -- A-10 Thunderbolt IIs share airspace with cargo aircraft and helicopters.Keeping those aircraft safe is an important and daunting task; but a team of Airmen recently installed new equipment to make that task a little easier.“We installed

  • Radar transfer improves air operations

    Flying into and out of Kabul and Bagram Air Base became safer because of the transfer of a radar to Kabul from Karshi-Khanabad AB in Uzbekistan, Afghanistan. U.S. Central Command Air Forces leaders chose to move the radar to Kabul when operations at “K-2” ended. “This site will give us better radar

  • Radar unit helps rescue glider crash victims

    Radar analysis provided by the 84th Radar Evaluation Squadron at the Western Air Defense Sector here helped in the rescue of two people crash landed their glider in remote southern California mountains. A Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department helicopter rescued the instructor pilot and a student

  • Radar upgrade key to future B-1 combat capability

    The Air Force recently awarded a $180-million contract to the Boeing Company to upgrade the fire-control radar on the service's fleet of 67 B-1B Lancer long-range bomber aircraft. The nine-year Reliability and Maintainability Improvement Program, or RMIP, will replace two units that make up the

  • Radar upgrades ensure situation awareness

    A Battle Management program to improve Air Force long-range radar systems recently reached full operational capability when all long-range sites were certified and deemed effective.

  • Radiation check

    Master Sgt. Sean Meenagh (left) takes a radio frequency radiation measurement while Lt. Col. Mike Elliott records the data. Both are assigned to the 379th Expeditionary Medical Group's bioenvironmental engineering section and periodically check radiation levels near radio frequency emitters for

  • Radio program enables speedy personnel recovery

    Officials of the Electronic Systems Center delivered the 20,000th Combat Survivor Evader Locator radio to operators in the fall of 2008, and now are on track to deliver an additional 20,000 to warfighters. Credited with saving many lives, CSELs have been in use in Iraq and in Afghanistan for several

  • Radio shop keeps deployed Airmen in tune

    A small shop has a big job here. The two-person shop within the 40th Air Expeditionary Group’s communications flight is responsible for programming, maintaining and tracking more than 360 hand-held radios, 299 pagers, a public address system, giant voice, about 15 television services and 200 phones

  • Radio team connects air to ground

    A team of five maintainers hitchhike around country making sure the Joint Radio Relay communications system keeps working.The team, made up of three Airmen and two contractors, maintain five JR2 systems located at remote sites throughout Afghanistan. The system has similar capabilities to the E-3

  • Radio up

    Senior Airman Michael Lee pieces together a high-frequency radio used for line of sight tactical radio communications June 21 at Joint Base Balad, Iraq. The radio and new high-frequency anntena directly support ground operations for warfighters in Iraq. Airman Lee is a 332nd Expeditionary

  • Radiologists see from the inside out

    When doctors need to look inside a patient, they call on a team of radiological professionals to reveal the answers that lie beneath.The eight-person 35th Surgical Operations Squadron diagnostic imaging team, commonly known as radiology, at Misawa Air Base performs an average of 500 image-gathering

  • Radiology staff provides reliable, rapid response in Iraq

    The third Monday of February did not bring the radiology flight a day off from work, like it did for most of their counterparts in America on Presidents Day. The radiology staff kept uttering the phrase, "Man, we've been very busy today." As the sixteenth hour of the day passed, 38 patients had been

  • Radiology team provides critical care for battlefield injuries

    In a combat zone, determining the proper medical treatment for battlefield injuries can be a matter of life or death. The 332nd Expeditionary Medical Group Radiology Flight ensures fast and accurate image production and interpretation are conducted so patients receive the right care. "Radiology

  • RAF Alconbury Airman dies in Southwest Asia

    An Airman assigned to the 423rd Security Forces Squadron here died while deployed to Southwest Asia in support of Operation New Dawn.Airman 1st Class Christoffer Johnson, 20, died Feb. 17 due to a non-combat related incident."Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends during this

  • RAF communications leader visits Global Cyberspace Integration Center

    The Royal Air Force assistant chief of staff for communications met with the Global Cyberspace Integration Center director to gain a better understanding of missions and issues faced by military forces from the U.S. and England July 14 here. RAF Air Commodore Mark Neal talked with Stan Newberry as

  • RAF exchange officer departs Air Force Academy

    The British are leaving. Only no one is happy to see them go.Royal Air Force Squadron Leader Martin Harris, the RAF exchange officer to the Air Force Academy, will depart in May for RAF Coningsby, England, where he will command the No. 17 Squadron. Harris is the last RAF officer that cadets will see

  • RAF Fairford hosts Royal International Air Tattoo

    Celebrating the 40th anniversary of what is billed as the world's largest military air show, members here turned over the airfield to the Royal International Air Tattoo July 16 and 17.Hosted at Royal Air Force Fairford 21 times since 1985, the Royal International Air Tattoo featured more than 200

  • RAF Lakenheath breaks ground on future F-35 infrastructure

    Through the partnership with the DIO, as well as Kier and VolkerFitzpatrick construction groups, the installation will be ready to welcome the first F-35A Lightning II aircraft in late 2021. The infrastructure projects will include a flight simulator facility, a maintenance unit, new hangars and

  • RAF Lakenheath welcomes new mission, aircraft

    The first two HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopters from the 56th Rescue Squadron arrived here from Naval Air Station Keflavik, Iceland, via a C-17 Globemaster III June 12 and 13. Five aircraft and many operators and maintainers are moving here as part of the reallocation of the Iceland-based unit. “We’re

  • RAF Mildenhall hosts European Tanker Symposium

    The 100th Air Refueling Wing hosted the European Tanker Symposium here May 9-11. Attendees included the Royal Air Force 101 Squadron, French air force Bretagne Sqadron, Italian air force 14 Wing, Belgium air component, and the U.S. Air Force 603rd Air and Space Operations Center from Ramstein Air

  • RAF Mildenhall maintenance officer awarded Bronze Star

    Since Dec. 6, 1941, men and women who served in any capacity in or with the U.S. military, have been awarded the Bronze Star Medal by distinguishing themselves through heroic or meritorious achievement or service in a combat zone.

  • RAF Mildenhall, French air force continue relationships

    Airmen from the 100th Air Refueling Wing hosted 15 French air force personnel from Base Aérienne 125, Istres, France, here Jan. 4 and 5, to build and strengthen partnerships created during Operation Unified Protector.During OUP, BA 125 was home to the 351st Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron,

  • RAF officers spin-up on 820th SFG roles, mission, training

    Two members from the Royal Air Force, Force Protection Centre at RAF Honington, United Kingdom, recently visited the 820th Security Forces Group at Moody Air Force Base, Ga., as part of an exchange program between the units. Flight Lt. Dave Martin and Wing Cmdr. Tom Sawyer, Force Protection Centre

  • RAF partners with PTN to innovate pilot training pipeline

    It’s been said that “seeing is believing” and after a visit last May to the Pilot Training Next facility in Austin and facing a pilot shortage, the United Kingdom’s Royal Air Force is taking innovation to the next level with the inclusion of a student and an instructor pilot in the second iteration

  • RAF Warrant Officer leads renovation of 1st Lt. Jarvis Offutt’s grave

    The recent restoration of 1st Lt. Jarvis Offutt’s grave was sparked when a Royal Air Force rivet joint specialist, assigned to RAF Waddington’s 56 Squadron visited the grave to pay respects to the former squadron member in December 2017, at Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Nebraska.

  • 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.

  • Raiders point to leadership's key role in Doolittle Tokyo Raid

    What motivates a person to volunteer for a mission so secret the people executing it aren't even told details until right before it starts? When the call for volunteers came, what makes that person's hand go up in the air, along with their fate? For at least two of the men assigned to Gen. Henry H.

  • Rain doesn't stop San Antonio's Freedom Walk

    Off and on rain, symbolic tears, fell upon the more than 1,200 walkers who took part in San Antonio's first Freedom Walk Sept. 11 in remembrance of the tragic attacks that scarred America five years ago. "Remembering the Pentagon, the World Trade Center in New York, and Shanksville, Pa., the America

  • RAM squad exercises ability to rescue coalition forces

    Firefighting tends to be a strenuous and dangerous job, requiring its practitioners to place themselves in harm's way to save lives and property.A team of 20 Air National Guard firefighters at Ali Base have volunteered to take that responsibility a step further by working on the Rescue Air Mobility

  • Ramstein AB Airman ignites innovation with spark of genius

    One 86th Communications Squadron Airman assigned to Ramstein Air Base took second place in the U.S. Air Forces in Europe’s Spark Tank competition.Airman 1st Class John Willman, 86th CS cyber defense analyst, won a $2,500 prize and a chance to win more and have the Air Force institute his idea at the

  • Ramstein AB Airmen honor U.S. veterans in Belgium

    Bad weather did not deter Airmen from Ramstein Air Base, Germany, from celebrating Veteran’s Day Nov. 11, 2017, at Henri-Chapelle American Cemetery and Memorial in Belgium. The ethereal curtain of fog and delicate rainfall only added to the poignancy of the ceremony.

  • Ramstein AB Airmen lead Rwandan port operations

    In an effort to confront destabilizing forces and violence within the Central African Republic, France and the African Union have requested U.S. support to move Rwandan forces into the region.

  • Ramstein AB hosts first sergeant symposium

    More than 120 military members from nine nations took part in the Kaiserslautern Military Community First Sergeant Council's Annual First Sergeant Symposium here Feb. 18 through 21.

  • Ramstein AB medics prepare for emergency situations

    Medics here sharpened their skills during Mobile Aeromedical Staging Facility training Aug. 2 to 6.A team of nurses, medical technicians, communications specialists and medical administrative technicians, exercised the capabilities of Ramstein Air Base's MASF, which is one of only three in the

  • Ramstein AB welcomes new Ravens

    Security forces Airmen from across the Kaiserslautern military community graduated from a Phoenix Raven Qualification Course at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, Feb. 12, 2018.

  • Ramstein airlift mission at full speed

    This airlift hub is now the main “pit stop” on the United States-to-Iraq supply route because of its high-tech facilities and ability to fix aircraft. That makes Ramstein not only the “gateway to Europe,” but also the “gateway to U.S. Central Command,” said Col. Jeff Derrick, commander of the 723rd

  • Ramstein airlift squadron kicks off exercise in Romania

    The 37th Airlift Squadron from Ramstein Air Base, Germany, kicked off exercise Carpathian Summer 2016 on May 9 at Otopeni AB, Romania. The 11-day, off-station training is a bilateral exercise to enhance interoperability and readiness with Romania by conducting combined air operations.

  • Ramstein Airman dies

    An Airman assigned here died in nearby Kaiserslautern at approximately 2:30 a.m. Jan. 14. The cause of death has not been determined at this time. The name of the Airman is being withheld until next of kin has been notified. The incident is under investigation. Comment on this story (comments may be

  • Ramstein Airman killed in Pakistan

    An 86th Airlift Wing major from here was killed after a Sept. 20 explosion in Islamabad, Pakistan. Maj. Rodolfo Rodriguez, 34, of the 86th Construction and Training Squadron, was deployed to the area in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. "Our heartfelt sympathies go out to his family and friends

  • Ramstein Airmen bring Christmas to Polish children

    What started out as a request to adopt a few children from a Polish mission for Christmas turned into a small support operation for the 2nd Air Support Operations Squadron out of Würzburg, Germany. “We found out there were many more children at the center,” said Lt. Col. Joseph Dill, 2nd ASOS

  • Ramstein Airmen build capability with Polish air force

    The 86th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron and 435th Contingency Response Group continuously train to meet sustainable medical readiness throughout the European theater here.Training not only benefits Ramstein Airmen, but also other allies like the Polish air force who have consistently engaged in AE

  • Ramstein Airmen conclude operations in Poland

    With a flurry of grass and dirt, a C-130J Super Hercules touched down on a grass runway at Powidz Air Base, Poland, marking the final week of deployed operations here, Aug. 25. For Airmen deployed from Ramstein Air Base, Germany, this was their home away from home for 60 days.

  • Ramstein Airmen connect with Rwandan children

    Large smiles, chewing gum bubbles and high-fives were the scene Sept. 22 when Airmen from Ramstein Air Base, Germany, gave donated goods to orphans and school children here.The 787th Air Expeditionary Squadron, comprised of 20 Airmen from the 86th Airlift Wing, 86th Contingency Response Group, 86th

  • Ramstein Airmen help Burundi military deploy

    Members of the 86th Contingency Response Group here deployed to Burundi Dec. 1 to train the country's military for its deployment to support the United Nations. In order to make the deployment successful, the 86th CRG deployed mobility experts to assist with deployment planning, processing, and

  • Ramstein Airmen help renovate Georgian school

    For the past month, the hallways of Gori Public School No. 4 were alive with the sounds of construction workers sanding, sawing, tearing down, building up and transforming what looked like a century-old building. The transformation continued till just hours before the Aug. 31 culminating ceremony,

  • Ramstein Airmen host German counterparts

    In the spirit of partnership, members of the 37th Airlift Squadron hosted 11of their counterparts from the German Luftwaffe Oct. 25 through 29 here. The German airmen, along with two C-160D Transall aircraft assigned to the Lufttransportgeschwader 62, traveled from Flugplatz Wunstorf to spend a week

  • Ramstein Airmen improve training, effectiveness with new M-50 mask

    Airmen at Ramstein Air Base will see a new change in chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear training with the use of the new M-50 Joint Service General Purpose Mask and Joint Service Lightweight Integrated Suit Technology, effective immediately."The new masks are joint service; they'll be

  • Ramstein Airmen join team in Iraq

    Six takeoffs. Six landings. Twelve hours. All in a day's work for aircrew members of the 737th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron taking on the mission known as the "pain train." "It's called the pain train because there's just 30 minutes between each stop," said Capt. Robin Cadow, 737th EAS pilot. "At

  • Ramstein Airmen participate in Exercise Thracian Spring

    Airmen from the 86th Airlift Wing and the 435th Air Base Wing at Ramstein Air Force Base, Germany, as well as master jumpmasters from the 5th Quartermasters at Rhein Ordnance Barracks, Germany, joined forces with Bulgarian military forces to conduct Exercise Thracian Spring here from March 26 to

  • Ramstein Airmen pay St. Baldrick's $6,645 for haircut

    Does a free haircut sound like a good deal? Perhaps it sounds even better when a free haircut raises awareness and money to combat cancer in children. Ninety-eight people volunteered to give up their locks to participate in the first St. Baldrick's event at Donnelly Park here June 26. The

  • Ramstein Airmen perform in-depth inspection on C-130J

    The first isochronal inspection on Ramstein Air Base's earliest C-130J Super Hercules aircraft kicked off here May 26. A team of about 60 active-duty Airmen from different specialty codes, all familiar with the J model, examined tail number 8601 during the 10-day inspection.An ISO inspection, much

  • Ramstein Airmen rekindle piece of D-Day history

    Seventy years ago, young men from the 37th Troop Carrier Squadron at RAF Cottesmore, England, prepared their aircraft and themselves for what would soon be known as one of the most significant and meaningful days in the history of the world...D-Day.