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U.S. Air Force News

  • RED HORSE Airmen close chapter with Iraqis

    Airmen with the 557th Expeditionary RED HORSE Squadron witnessed the ribbon-cutting ceremony for a community center Dec. 5 in Hawr Rajab. Through a program called Village of Hope, RED HORSE Airmen taught Iraqi citizens the basics of construction over a 10-month period that yielded four remodeled

  • RED HORSE Airmen construct new facilities

    The 557th Expeditionary Rapid Engineer Deployable Heavy Operations Repair Squadron of Engineers recently constructed three buildings outside of Joint Base Balad in two months in support of the responsible drawdown of U.S. servicemembers from Iraq.The team of 26 RED HORSE Airmen constructed a badging

  • Red Horse Airmen deploy to Thailand

    Airmen from here packed up and are heading to Utapao, Thailand, to assist in the region devastated by tsunamis Dec. 26.The 24 Airmen of the 554th Red Horse Squadron will conduct airfield assessments for the Department of Defense’s combined joint task force to determine the usability of runways for

  • RED HORSE Airmen give Iraqis reason for hope

    Six months ago, the town of Hawr Rajab was a mere shell of its former self. Local shops were closed, their windows boarded up. The streets were abandoned. Homes were badly damaged. The town was once an al-Qaida in Iraq stronghold where violence and intimidation forced residents to flee their homes.

  • Red Horse Airmen keep Afghan supply lanes open

    The sight of a C-17 Globemaster III coming in for a landing here can be awe-inspiring. The 174-foot-long transport drops from the sky in an instant. Its thrust-reversing engines create a thunderous sound that lets all around know it has landed.More importantly, with a payload of up to 170,900

  • RED HORSE Airmen lend helping hand to homeless shelter in Guam

    RED HORSE Airmen are part of a uniquely trained unit that provides rapid response for quick airfield or facility repairs in remote areas. But Airmen assigned to 554th RED HORSE Squadron -- short for Rapid Engineer Deployable Heavy Operations Repair Squadron Engineers -- used their training in a

  • Red Horse Airmen renovate Chilean school's library

    Two Airmen completed renovations of a dilapidated library at a Chilean culinary and hotel service high school here Oct. 31 giving 80 students a comfortable and usable library the students and faculty can use for years to come. The renovation, the result of Operation Southern Partner - a two-week

  • RED HORSE Airmen support Army in southern Baghdad

    In the midst of the ongoing security surge around Baghdad, a team of Airmen with heavy construction skills and expertise are helping fortify the Army's presence at Forward Operating Base Kalsu, south of the city. It's a dynamic situation for the Rapid Engineer Deployable Heavy Operational Repair

  • RED HORSE breaks ground on new training field

    Airmen broke ground on the Northwest Field Expeditionary Training Campus here Oct. 11. The 554th Rapid Engineer Deployable Heavy Operations Repair Squadron Engineers will accomplish $20 million in construction over the next five years. "Right now we are only 74 strong, but we'll have our full

  • Red Horse builds it all at Q-West

    The sounds of hammers smashing nails and the buzzing of saws cutting wood, typically resonate through this forward Army outpost -- simply known as Q-West. The 200-plus civil engineering Airmen of the 557th Expeditionary Red Horse Squadron are nowhere near an airfield. And they are nowhere near any

  • Red Horse dedicates work to building base

    Heavy equipment, red hard hats and the shout of 'Ready, go!' break the early morning silence as members of the Red Horse unit start another grueling workday at a forward-deployed location in the Arabian Gulf region.People from the 819th/219th Red Horse Squadron were deployed to help build up

  • RED HORSE elite team compared to real life superheroes

    A 21-member civil engineering team whose main objectives are to air insert themselves to repair battle-damaged airfields and quickly return them to service. The team is composed of electricians, structures, heavy equipment operators, vehicle maintenance and services personnel.

  • Red Horse engineers build Iraqi future

    In the military community, the Red Horse name invokes images of rough and ready Airmen who can deploy at a moment’s notice into austere and hostile environments and build an operational airfield, seemingly overnight.In today’s war on terrorism, a group of Red Horse engineers from the Ohio and

  • RED HORSE engineers move full-speed ahead in Peru

    A 64-member team of Air Force civil engineers are making speedy progress here in the completion of several construction projects supporting New Horizons-Peru 2008, a U.S. and Peruvian humanitarian effort to bring relief to underprivileged Peruvians. The Rapid Engineer Deployable Heavy Operational

  • RED HORSE helps build combat brigade base in 45 days

    Two months ago, Forward Operating Base Shawshook, near Besmaya Range, was nothing more than dirt and tumbleweeds. Now, at the newly developed Forward Operating Base Hammer there's a full-up U.S. Army combat brigade, the 3rd of the 3rd Infantry Division, housed and fed -- ready to conduct missions in

  • RED HORSE joins Navy, local Guam engineers for concrete course

    Several Airmen from the 554th RED HORSE Squadron and Guam Air National Guard's 254th RED HORSE Squadron teamed up with U.S. Navy Sailors from Naval Base Guam to participate in the island's first joint concrete American Concrete Institute (ACI) field concrete testing program Dec. 9-12.

  • Red Horse keeps planes landing at Kandahar

    Runways are essential to any air operation and many of the airfields in Afghanistan, used in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, need improvements. The runway here is being refurbished by cutting it in half length-wise, with crews repairing one side while aircraft land and take off on the other.

  • RED HORSE logistics hub supports Airmen uprange

    An Air Force horse has been making tracks throughout Southwest Asia as this mobile force is making a difference in the war on terrorism.The Rapid Engineer Deployable Heavy Operational Repair Squadron Engineers, or simply RED HORSE, supports contingency and special operations missions with mobile,

  • RED HORSE meets NASCAR

    Members of the 820th RED HORSE Squadron met with team members from a NASCAR truck racing team as part of an orientation between the Red Horse Racing team and the RED HORSE squadron Sept. 24 here. The Red Horse Racing team currently races Toyota Tundras in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and

  • RED HORSE port team equips New Horizons Panama mission for success

    A 12-person logistics support team moved more than 200 pieces of cargo 250 kilometers (more than 155 miles) from the port in Panama City to Meteti for New Horizons Panama 2010.The team, a division of the RED HORSE contingent deploying to Panama for New Horizons, arrived May 11, and worked furiously

  • RED HORSE restructures to elevate deployment capabilities

    RED HORSE stands for Rapid Engineer Deployable, Heavy Operational Repair Squadron, Engineer. They are self-sufficient and mobile squadrons capable of rapid response and independent operations in remote environments worldwide.

  • RED HORSE Squadron returns from deployment

    More than 180 Airmen from the 819th RED HORSE Squadron touched down at the Great Falls International Airport, Mont., at 11 a.m. April 14 after being deployed for more than six months in support of the war on terrorism. The Airmen were greeted by Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer, Col. Sandra Finan,

  • Red Horse squadrons unite in the fight

    Red Horse squadrons from around the globe are combining forces to improve the quality of life for military members and safety conditions for Airmen and aircraft in South Korea. Rapid Engineer Deployable Heavy Operational Repair Squadron Engineers from Osan’s 554th RHS have worked closely with Guard,

  • RED HORSE team improves flightline operations

    Airmen assigned to the 1st Expeditionary RED HORSE Group are nearing the completion of installing a barrier arresting kit on the flightline at Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan. "The BAK 12 is an emergency stopping system for tail-hook equipped aircraft when they have in-flight emergencies and they don't

  • Red Horse team maintains smooth operations in, out of Kandahar

    A team of about 20 Red Horse civil engineers from Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., are doing their part to keep flights coming in and out of here in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. As part of a $7 million construction project, warfighters can expect to see more than 150,000 square feet of

  • RED HORSE team rides in for Ulchi Freedom Guardian

    Ulchi Freedom Guardian 2011 augmentees from across the globe arrived here recently to find a tent city already set up by 254th RED HORSE members.Ulchi Freedom Guardian is an annual computer-assisted simulation command post exercise that focuses on training service members while exercising senior

  • RED HORSE: A legacy of leaving it better than how they found it

    RED HORSE is a self-sustaining, mobile, heavy construction squadron capable of rapid response and independent operations in remote, high-threat environments worldwide. They were activated in 1966 as the Air Force’s combat construction team. Today, the 557th Expeditionary RED HORSE Squadron carries

  • Red Tail Express makes final delivery

    Trucks. Lots of trucks. Trucks with aircraft parts, refrigerators, wall lockers, office desks, computer equipment, construction vehicles -- some even hauling other trucks, along with hundreds of other odds and ends. All these items are loaded and strapped onto 18-wheelers and flatbed trailers,

  • Red Tail legacy comes full circle

    Airmen assigned to the 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing take great pride in the heritage created for them by the Tuskegee Airmen. Today a key piece of the wing’s history has once again returned to its flightline.

  • 'Red Tail' member visits the Pentagon

    The Air Force hosted one of the original Tuskegee Airmen and his family March 16 during a tour of the Pentagon.Retired Lt. Col. Walter McCreary, his daughter Stephanie Lynch and grandson Nicholas Lynch were given a tour of the Air Force Art Gallery, the Pentagon 9/11 Memorial and the Tuskegee Airmen

  • Red Tails conduct joint air integration exercise

    U.S. Air Force, U.S. Army and partner nation combat controllers coordinated with F-15E Strike Eagles assigned to the 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing and conducted Close Air Support 9-Lines with target correlation.

  • Red, White and Brave parade honors those who serve

    Air Force Academy participants joined forces with many local military members and civilians alike who turned out to salute returning Fort Carson fighting men and women Aug. 29, 2009, in downtown Colorado Springs. The Red, White and Brave parade drew an estimated 40,000 spectators lining downtown

  • Redeployment survey shows most Airmen return healthy

    The Air Force has reassessed about 12,500 Airmen since December after they returned from deployment and found most of those Airmen to be healthy. At the close of 2005, the Air Force began asking Airmen who returned from deployment to places like Afghanistan and Iraq to complete a post-deployment

  • Redesigned NCO retraining program begins with voluntary phase

    The 2010 Noncommissioned Officer Retraining Program has a new look and focus as Air Force officials here seek to fill approximately 1,124 shortage career field and special duty positions. The entire program has been reduced from nine months to 120 days to better serve both Airmen and the Air Force

  • Redesigned program eases Airmen's transition to civilian life

    A redesigned program will help ease every Airman's transition to civilian life and better apply their military experience, Air Force officials said. The program is the first major overhaul of the transition assistance program for military members in nearly 20 years. The effort began in response to a

  • Redesigned Tricare Web site will make getting info easy

    Getting information is going to get easier for the 9.1 million Tricare beneficiaries. Soon they will be able to access Tricare information tailored for them through the new My Benefits portal.In addition to simplified navigation, beneficiaries will be able to compare plans, get detailed information

  • Redeyes fly in Korean skies

    More than 200 Airmen and several F-16 Fighting Falcons from the Colorado Air National Guard’s 140th Wing have been deployed at Kunsan Air Base since February as part of a of a rotational theater security package (TSP).

  • REDHORSE and Prime BEEF building up ADAB

    The 1st Expeditionary Civil Engineer Group provides theater-wide engineering technical services, light and heavy troop labor construction and repairs within the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility in order to engineer combat power and establish and sustain combat platforms for USCENTCOM and

  • Redistribution team facilitates drawdown order

    In less than a year, the United States military is scheduled to execute the responsible drawdown of nearly 150,000 troops from Iraq. The troop exodus requires the consignment of cargo, vehicles, supplies and other war fighting equipment used in deployed locations.Joint Base Balad's redistribution

  • Reductions necessary to recapitalize today's service

    Reducing the number of Airmen in the service is never easy business, but it's absolutely necessary to recapitalize today's service, said the Air Force's top personnel officer Sept. 26 at the annual Air Force Association's Air and Space Conference here. "This is a challenging time for all people in

  • Reductions won't affect most TRICARE Prime beneficiaries

    Despite upcoming service area reductions, TRICARE Prime will remain a health care option for 97 percent of the more than 5 million beneficiaries eligible for the health care plan, Military Health System officials said.The 3 percent difference, which comprises about 171,000 beneficiaries who mostly

  • Re-enlistment bonuses adjusted

    Air Force officials recently revised re-enlistment bonuses, adding or increasing 40 career field zones and decreasing or removing 100, according to Air Force Personnel Center officials here.The revision to the selective re-enlistment bonus program includes additions of zones in two career fields

  • Re-enlistment marks milestone for accident victim

    It was a red-letter day for Tech. Sgt. Hector Barrios when he re-enlisted in the Air Force recently.While a re-enlistment itself is not an unusual event, getting there was for the 96th Security Forces Squadron dog handler.On July 15, 2003, Sergeant Barrios was deployed supporting Operation Iraqi

  • Re-enlistment pilot program available down range

    A program designed to speed the re-enlistment process at deployed locations began this month. The Deployed Re-enlistment Pilot Program, developed by officials at the Air Force Personnel Center and U.S. Air Forces Central Command, is being tested at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan. If successful,

  • 'REEP'ing the rewards of energy conservation

    More than $6 million was spent on base housing utilities in 2011 here and Royal Air Force Feltwell. The 48th Civil Engineer Squadron housing office staff members are looking to reduce that number with the Resident Energy Efficiency Program they began Oct. 1.The REEP initiative is a three-month-long

  • Reese Technology Center: Research powerhouse in Lubbock

    Pilots trained to fly at the former Reese Air Force Base here may remember the "interesting crosswinds" in the area. The military pilots are gone, but the blustery winds are placing this northwest Texas city on the renewable energy map.These winds, as well as other hallmarks of the area, such as

  • Reestablished council reaches milestones

    The Air Force's reestablished Force Management and Development Council has reached two milestones, securing the vice chief of staff's endorsement of the Air Force Learning Committee and the Officer Force Development Panel. The council, chaired by Gen. Duncan J. McNabb, reestablished its charter

  • Referees of the airfield

    What does it take to support multiple U.S. and coalition aircraft on a 12,012-foot runway while keeping safety as the primary concern 24-hours a day, seven days a week?Airmen of airfield operations, composed of airfield management and air traffic control, ensure safe air and ground operations for

  • Reflecting on Veterans Day

    Veterans and their families, both young and old, reflected on the sacrifices made by Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines, who provide this nation with the best fighting force in the world, during a Veterans Day ceremony Nov. 11 at the Air Force Memorial, which overlooks the Pentagon and Potomac

  • Reflections on the water: Outward Bound veteran expeditions

    Through a joint effort between various foundations, servicemembers who are veterans of operation Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom can receive a free Outward Bound expedition.Outward Bound offers white water rafting trips, cliff diving and group fitness, hikes and teambuilding exercises. Life on

  • REFORPAC 2025 comes to a close

    Misawa AB’s 35th FW wrapped up exercise REFORPAC25, marking a milestone month of agile combat employment, joint integration and combat readiness across the Indo-Pacific.

  • REFORPAC 2025: US, JASDF medics conduct aeromedical evacuation training

    U.S. Air Force Airmen assigned to the 18th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron and 35th Medical Group, partnered with the 36th Airlift Squadron and Japan Air Self-Defense Force Misawa Medical Squadron, to conduct a mass casualty exercise and subject matter expert exchange during REFORPAC 2025.

  • Refractive surgery program policy changes

    Air Force officials have changed the policy to allow people applying for aviation and aviation-related jobs to have had LASIK surgery. The change became effective May 21. The change also removes the altitude and high-performance aircraft restrictions for people who have had LASIK. The decision to

  • Refresher course allows pilots to hone survival skills

    Out among unknown landscape, pilots scramble to evade potential captors by hiding under bushes and trees until they can escape enemy territory. It will take all their survival skills not to get caught, even if this is only an exercise.About seven times a year, pilots are brought together here for a

  • Refuelers at rest

    The sun sets behind KC-10 Extenders assigned to the 44th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron at a forward-deployed location supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. The 44th EARS has flown more than 2,000 sorties in support of the war on terrorism and delivered more than 225 million pounds of fuel to

  • Refuelers await over Afghanistan

    On any given night over Afghanistan, a KC-135 Stratotanker refueling aircraft may be flying nearby as Soldiers in night-vision goggles move in on an enemy position. If needed, Soldiers call for close-air-support from the Air Force -- an A-10 Thunderbolt II may answer the call for help. No matter how

  • Refuelers feed the deployed mission

    The 908th Air Refueling Squadron Airmen are doing their part in the war on terror, flying missions out of an base in Southwest Asia. "We have one-third of the air refueling assets as far as the aircraft and the crews go, but we provide almost 50 percent of the air refueling fuel in the area of

  • Refuelers keep mission going Christmas Day over Afghanistan

    'Tis the season for giving and receiving. In the skies over Afghanistan, every day of the year could pass as Christmas Day. Refueling aircraft give up their fuel to the receiving aircraft which carry out the mission of air supremacy and ground support for Operation Enduring Freedom. Christmas Day

  • Refueling is lifeline of U.S., NATO air operations

    Thirty Royal Danish air force F-16 Fighting Falcons took to the sky over their homeland Dec. 8 to rendezvous with a Royal Air Force Mildenhall-based KC-135 Stratotanker and perform semi-annual aerial refueling training. The mission fortified both operational readiness and mutual trust between the

  • Refueling maintainers run largest 'gas station' in Atlantic

    Imagine pushing your vehicle down the road to a service station to refuel. Now imagine pulling a more than 30,000 pound F-16 Fighting Falcon to an island in the middle of the ocean to get gas. Airmen at Lajes Field like Senior Airman Justin Madsden keep the biggest gas station in the Atlantic

  • Region Air Force commander visits Kadena

    The importance of the 18th Wing's mission in fighting the war on terrorism and its peace-keeping efforts in the Pacific region were key topics of discussion by the commander of U.S. Forces Japan and 5th Air Force during his visit here Nov. 15. Lt. Gen. Bruce Wright, visited the base for an in-depth

  • Regional affairs program gets 54 new officers

    The Air Force has selected 54 line officers--51 captains and three majors--into the Regional Affairs Strategist program. The program, managed by the under secretary of the Air Force, international affairs, is a force development initiative intended to create a cadre of officers with in-depth

  • Regional African Air Chiefs Symposium begins

    The U.S. 3rd Air Force commander and the Ghanaian chief of air staff hosted opening ceremonies for the second Regional Air Chiefs Symposium at the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Center Aug. 20.

  • Regional challenges, budget effect USAFE/AFAFRICA

    Gen. Frank Gorenc, the commander of U.S. Air Forces in Europe and U.S. Air Forces Africa, spoke about the impact of sequestration and some of the current challenges USAFE/AFAFRICA faces on Sept 15, at the Air Force Association Air and Space Symposium here.

  • Regional demonstrations encourage bright future

    The Air Force along with 15 countries from Central America, South America and the Caribbean came together to participate in a Regional Coordination Center demonstration July 31 through Aug. 2 in Eagan, Minn. With joint efforts from the U.S. Southern Command, Air Forces Southern, and Lockheed Martin,

  • Regis, Kelly featuring troop holiday messages

    Regis Philbin and Kelly Ripa, hosts of the morning talk show, "Live with Regis and Kelly," will feature televised holiday greetings from deployed U.S. servicemembers to their loved ones at home throughout Christmas week.Footage of troops in Iraq, Afghanistan, Kuwait, Korea and Bosnia, all shot by

  • Registration drive for overseas voters under way

    With the November general elections coming up, Defense Department officials have designated July 4 to 10 as Overseas Citizens Voters Week to get eligible DOD people stationed abroad registered to vote.The objective is to get overseas voters involved in the electoral process and to stress the

  • Registration figures up for 2008 Air Force Marathon

    Registration figures for the 2008 Air Force Marathon continue to outpace the numbers from this time last year and remain on track to break 2007's overall record of more than 6,700 runners. As of Aug. 4, the total number of runners registered for the 12th annual event stood at 4,550, which compared

  • Registration for AETC Symposium still open

    Airmen and Air Force civilians can still register for the 2009 Air Education and Training Command Symposium being held Jan. 15 and 16 at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center in San Antonio.Members of all commands who attend the interactive technology expose will see demonstrations of the next

  • Registration now open for 2011 AETC Symposium

    Registration is open for the 2011 Air Education and Training Command Symposium, scheduled for Jan. 20 and 21 at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center in San Antonio. The two-day symposium is slated to feature more than 90 seminars on a variety of education, training and innovation topics by

  • Registration open for 2003 USAF marathon

    Registration is under way for the 2003 U.S. Air Force Marathon scheduled here for Sept. 20.Runner categories have changed slightly from past years. A 5K fun run and a 1/2 marathon have been added. There will no longer be a marathon team category. The marathon, four-person Ekiden-style relay team

  • Registration open for 2010 Air Force Energy Forum III

    The Air Force Energy III Forum, focusing on the service's most pressing energy issues, is slated to take place May 27 through 28 here. Highlighting the event's theme "A New Culture: Energy as an Operations Enabler," Air Force, government and industry energy representatives will discuss the service's

  • Registration open for Air University’s 4th LREC Symposium

    Registration is now open for Air University’s 4th annual Language, Regional Expertise and Culture Symposium.The Air Force Culture and Language Center at Air University hosts the symposium each year providing a platform for academic exchange on topics specific to language, region and culture

  • Registration open for Rodeo 2007

    Registration for Air Mobility Expeditionary Rodeo 2007 is now open through April 2. This year's competition takes place July 22-28 at McChord Air Force Base, Wash.United States Air Force teams can register online on Department of Defense computers at the Rodeo 2007 Web site,

  • Registration opens for 3rd annual I-WEPTAC

    The Air Force Installation and Mission Support Center announces registration for the third annual Installation and Mission Support Weapons and Tactics Conference is open.

  • Registration opens for Africa Command symposium

    Registration is open for the Air Force's U.S. Africa Command Symposium scheduled to be held March 31 through April 2 at Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala. The policy-focused event will ponder the Air Force's contribution to AFRICOM and engage participants in the creation of a set of proposals for the

  • Registry tracks effects of embedded metal fragments

    A Defense Department registry is helping officials gather data to be sure the long-accepted practice of leaving embedded metal fragments in wounded warriors' bodies as long as vital organs aren't threatened is valid. Officials at the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology created the Embedded Metal

  • Registry yields life-saving treatment lessons

    A registry established six years ago to track casualty information from Iraq and Afghanistan is providing valuable data that's saving wounded warriors' lives, the commander of the theater hospital here said.Air Force Lt. Col. (Dr.) Guillermo Tellez, commander of the Staff Sgt. Heathe N. Craig Joint

  • Regni nominated as academy superintendent

    Lt. Gen. John F. Regni has been nominated by the president to be the next U.S. Air Force Academy superintendent, Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld announced Aug. 29.If confirmed by the senate, General Regni would be the academy’s 17th superintendent.Currently, he is Air University commander at