HomeNews

NATO Air Policing operations

U.S. Air Force News

  • Aerial target QF-16 takes to the sky

    The Air Force's newest aerial target took a major step toward preparing warfighters downrange with a realistic fourth-generation replication of what they may face on the battlefield.

  • Recon squadron keeps remotely piloted aircraft flying

    "To provide world-class, full spectrum remotely piloted aircraft operations for the joint forces in Afghanistan," is the 62nd Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron's motto. The unit's Airmen work 24 hours a day to provide 84 percent of Central Commands' RPA combat air patrols.

  • British pilot soars among Yankees

    As they gather for a routine flight briefing they appear the same: same flight suit, same gear, same mission. Upon further inspection it becomes clear that one of these pilots is not exactly like the others.

  • USA Team wraps up second day of Invictus Games training

    Members of the Invictus Games U.S. Team finished their second day of training by practicing road cycling at Lee Valley VeloPark here Sept. 9. Competitors on both upright solo and recumbent bikes tested out the one-mile road circuit to familiarize themselves with the track before the Invictus Games

  • Airmen operate America's fortress

    Known as America's Fortress, Cheyenne Mountain is portrayed in movies, books and documentaries as a top secret base similar to that of Area 51.

  • Air Force revamps AEF

    The Air Force will deploy Agile Combat Support Airmen under its redesigned air expeditionary force construct October 1.

  • Kandahar's Liberty operations reach end of mission

    After four years of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions, the 361st Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron will complete their MC-12W Liberty operations in southern Afghanistan at the beginning of September 2014.

  • Yokota Airmen strengthen bilateral, joint disaster response exercises

    As the C-130 Hercules dove through the clouds toward its target 300 feet off the deck, the crew began its drop zone entry checklist. In the back of the aircraft, two loadmasters readied the cargo and eyed the amber light, awaiting its turn to green. Suddenly, the navigator's voice alerted over the

  • AFSOUTH partnership brings illicit air drug trafficking to a halt

    In 2010, illegal drugs were being flown into the Dominican Republic at an alarming rate. The continual issue of drug trafficking led the Dominican government to seek new aircraft and tactics to deal with the problem. They turned to the U.S. Southern Command, which is responsible for U.S. military

  • Airman saved lives 'the right way'

    Last December, Senior Airman Cody Nuñez, 21st Airlift Squadron, spent two weeks in Entebbe, Uganda providing humanitarian care to the war-torn Central African Republic.

  • 'Total Force' Airmen keep ammo rolling for vital OEF missions

    Airmen assigned to the 455th Maintenance Squadron aren't just practicing total force integration during an exercise or at home, they are performing it for real in a combat zone and they are doing it as the U.S. Air Force gets smaller. They're proof that TFI works in the real world doing the real

  • Uncommon gallantry: Remembering Bernard Fisher

    Retired Col. Bernard Fisher, who risked his life landing his A-1E Skyraider to rescue a fellow pilot while North Vietnamese troops unleashed a storm of bullets toward him, died Aug. 16, at age 87.

  • U.S., Latvian TACPs sharpen special ops skills

    Tactical air control party specialists with the 169th Air Support Operations Squadron and the Latvian military joined forces August 2014 to sharpen their special operations skills at the 3rd-annual Operation Northern Strike in Grayling, Michigan.

  • ANG B-2 pilot surpasses 1,000 hours

    The landing gear touched down and the aircraft skimmed down the runway just as it had many times before. This time, though, a routine flying mission became a major achievement for the 131st Bomb Wing as well as a career milestone for Lt. Col. Ryan "Poacher" Bailey, a Missouri Air National Guardsman

  • Spiritual resilience fuels the heart, soul

    Similar to a sine wave, everyone has ups and downs, but it's their spirituality that gets them to the next day. No matter the faith background, where a person is from or who their family is, everyone has some sort of spirituality to lean on during both the hard times and the fun ones.

  • Kunsan Airmen prowl sky over Alaska

    Airmen assigned to the 80th Fighter Squadron stationed at Kunsan Air Base, South Korea, arrived at Eielson Air Force base here a few days late, but wasted no time in catching up with the rest of Red Flag-Alaska 14-3.

  • Travis AFB makes boy superhero for a day

    As he puts on the uniform that resembles military desert camouflage, he is no longer a child -- he is a superhero. His mission is to use his extremely advanced fighting skills developed during his 11 years on earth to defeat the bad guys and rescue the good guys. His superhero instincts lead him to

  • ACC loans Global Hawk to Global Vigilance Combined Test Force

    The 412th Test Wing's Global Vigilance Combined Test Force received a Global Hawk Block 40 Aug. 6, on loan from Air Combat Command. The aircraft, from Grand Forks Air Force Base, North Dakota, is joining the Block 20 and 40 aircraft at Edwards AFB to offer an additional platform for

  • Improvement program keeps officer engaged in missile mission

    Capt. Billy Terry, a 341st Operational Support Squadron intercontinental ballistic missile senior combat crew instructor, was given the opportunity to chase a dream he had for most of his life - to change career fields and work as a space systems operator.

  • Largest ISR weapons, tactics conference charts joint vector

    For the eighth consecutive year tacticians and subject matter experts from across the intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance community, met at the Air Force ISR Agency headquarters here to help shape the future direction of the Air Force -- this time in concert with its sister services.

  • DOD continues aid to combat western wildfires

    Two Department of Defense C-130Hercules equipped with U.S. Forest Service Modular Airborne Fire Fighting Systems and under the command and control of U.S. Northern Command are assisting with wildfire suppression efforts in the Northwest, Great Basin, and elsewhere in the West at the request of the

  • Bomber crews showcase take-off talents

    Ten B-52H Stratofortress bombers took part in a minimum interval takeoff exercise, or MITO, showcasing ground and aircrew's abilities, here Aug. 14.During a MITO, each aircraft is equipped with eight starter cartridges filled with gunpowder, that allows the engines to start up faster than a normal

  • AWACS upgrade achieves initial operational capability

    The commander of Air Combat Command, Gen. Mike Hostage, declared initial operational capability for the 552nd Air Control Wing's E-3G Sentry, an Airborne Warning and Control System Block 40/45 aircraft, July 28, here.

  • 5th Bomb Wing turns 95

    Today marks the 95th Anniversary of the 5th Bomb Wing. Originally activated August 15, 1919 as the 2nd Observation Group at Luke Field in the Territory of Hawaii, the men and women of the 5th BW have seen action in WWII and Operations Desert Fox, Allied Force, Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom, to

  • Greece, US plan for successful air training

    They had been in the room for nearly six hours. The planners scoured the map of Greece, searching for just the right area to place an enemy missile defense system, or an enemy airfield, or one of hundreds of other highly defended military targets

  • New inspection system taking form at Nellis

    The publication of Air Force Instruction 90-201, Air Force Inspection System, brought fundamental changes to the way the base conducts inspections. Under the new system, units will no longer be spending weeks and months preparing for a one-week inspection from the Air Combat Command Inspector

  • DOD continues aid to combat wildfires in Northwest

    Two Defense Department C-130 Hercules equipped with U.S. Forest Service Modular Airborne Fire Fighting Systems, or MAFFS, and under the command and control of U.S. Northern Command are assisting with wildfire suppression efforts in the Northwest, Great Basin, and elsewhere in the West at the request

  • Journalist recalls travels with Robin Williams

    U.S. service members truly lost a friend with the death of Robin Williams yesterday, Aug. 11. Williams made multiple USO tours to Iraq, Afghanistan, the Persian Gulf, Bahrain, Kuwait and other bases in Southwest Asia to give soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines and DoD civilians a little taste of

  • Tobacco use harms military readiness, official says

    Because tobacco use is harmful to military readiness, the Defense Department has an added responsibility to curb its use, the assistant secretary of defense for health affairs said today, noting that service members are more likely to use tobacco products than civilians.

  • US partners with Greece for bilateral training

    Nearly 20 U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcons from the 480th Fighter Squadron at Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, deployed to Souda Bay, Greece, for bilateral training with the Hellenic air force Aug. 11-23.

  • Code change: Securing critical assets

    Once a year, the codes used to launch Minot Air Force Base's intercontinental ballistic missiles need to be updated.The manual process requires hundreds of Airmen work around the clock for three weeks straight to ensure all launch facilities are accessed and the missile code change is a success.

  • Wounded warriors wrap up Warrior Games training

    Over 60 wounded veterans from across the country participated in the final Warrior and Invictus Games training camp here Aug. 3-7 to prepare for the fall games, motivate others and take a healthy step toward recovery.

  • An Airman for now, a Marine forever

    Marine Corps Maj. Eric Hugg, the 55th Fighter Squadron chief of training, is a part of an exchange program that gives Marine Corps pilots the opportunity to fly with the 55th Fighter Squadron at Shaw Air Force Base, S.C.

  • Intel NCO named best AF pistol shooter

    The NCOIC for intelligence for the 705 Combat Training Squadron at Kirtland AFB has become the No. 1 pistol shooter in the Air Force.Staff Sgt. Terrence Sears, NCO in charge of the Air Force National Pistol Team, took top honors among Air Force shooters at the National Pistol Championships in July,

  • Joint trauma system vital link to saving lives

    A loud explosion hits close, shaking the dust from the walls. Sirens start going off and servicemembers run to check on everyone near the impact site. The 9-line report comes across the net. Helicopter rotors start spinning. The wounded receive their first care from a medic who also completes a

  • Culture change: Aviation safety in healthcare

    The Air Combat Command Surgeon General's office pioneered a program bringing operational risk management and flightline safety procedures into hospitals and dental squadrons across the Air Force.

  • Tyndall AFB takes F-22 pilot training to next level

    The Air Force’s ability to continue developing a fifth generation fighter aircraft fleet ready to meet the challenges of future warfare, hinges in large part, on a steady influx of capable and trained F-22 Raptor pilots.

  • New museum to inspire Airmen

    Two Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland museums, the Airman Heritage Museum and the Security Forces Museum, will consolidate into the Enlisted Heritage and Character Development Center by October 2014 and will serve as a stepping stone for a larger $50 million, privately-funded museum set to open in

  • ACC, PACAF commanders confirmed

    Pacific Air Forces Commander Gen. Herbert Carlisle will be the next commander of Air Combat Command and ACC Vice Commander Lt. Gen. Lori Robinson will be the next commander of Pacific Air Forces, according to a Senate confirmation vote July 23.

  • SECAF discusses current, future challenges with 501st CSW

    Secretary of the Air Force Deborah Lee James visited Royal Air Force Alconbury and RAF Molesworth, England, to learn more about the mission of the 501st Combat Support Wing and to discuss with Airmen the current state of the Air Force.

  • Security forces marksmen hone skills at Alaska range

    Brock said his parents didn't like guns and wouldn't allow him to have one. At 16 years old, he managed to get his hands on a BB gun. At 17, his grandfather, who sympathized with the teenager, got a Remington Model 522 Viper .22-caliber rifle for the budding marksman as a Christmas gift. He was

  • Medical training in hyperreality

    The Air Force Medical Modeling and Simulation Training, or AFMMAST, is improving medical training is by adding hyperreality and high fidelity through the use of the Tactical Combat Casualty Care Cut Suit.

  • F-15E takes first flight with new radar system

    The first 389th Fighter Squadron F-15E Strike Eagle received a Radar Modernization Program upgrade at Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho in June. The new radar system is designed to retain functionality of the old legacy radar system while providing expanded mission employment capabilities.

  • F-35s return to limited flight operations

    The 26 Air Force F-35s Lightning II joint strike fighters assigned here returned to limited flight operations July 17 with the approval of commanders and Air Force airworthiness authorities.

  • ‘Like watching your kid grow up’: B-2 Spirit 25th anniversary

    The first B-2 Spirit to "slip the surly bonds of earth" celebrates its 25th anniversary of flight July 17, providing the Airmen and civilians who work with the airframe a chance to reflect on the strategic impact 20 aircraft can have in the entire Defense Department arsenal.

  • Reserve Airman saves fellow Airman after ATV rollover

    The swift actions of an Airman during an ATV accident saved the limb and probably the life of a fellow Airman. Airman 1st Class Makayla Conant, 477th Security Forces Squadron, was the passenger in a Razor ATV being driven by fellow Security Forces member, Staff Sgt. Philip Strumsky, when the ATV

  • ANG Airman selected to serve on VA advisory group

    Chief Master Sgt. Christopher C. Guy, the personnel career field functional manager, will serve on a three member team that will provide recommended solutions on enhanced data sharing and the efficient transfer of the separating or retiring members' service treatment records from the Defense

  • GORUCK Light Challenge tests, inspires Airmen

    Painful muscles, cramps, dripping sweat, extremely hot temperatures and two heavy downpours courtesy of the base fire department weren't enough to dispel the motivation of more than more than 25 members of the base community here participating in the GORUCK Light, Team Cohesion Challenge July 12 at

  • F-35 returns to limited flight, officials rule out Farnborough

    While the F-35 Lightning II joint strike fighter has returned to limited flying, it will not be appearing at the Farnborough International Airshow in the United Kingdom, Pentagon Press Secretary Navy Rear Adm. John Kirby said during a Pentagon news conference July 15.

  • Weapons Airman keeps F-22s in the fight

    Airman 1st Class Kyron Abraham worked the day shift during those winter months. He drove to work through the cold night of day to the 3rd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, and joined his three-man team in relieving the night shift. Then the order came to load

  • Branched out: From Marine, Soldier, Sailor to Airman

    Staff Sgt. Jesus Yanez, currently deployed to Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, from the Texas Air National Guard's 204th Security Forces Squadron in El Paso, Texas, has answered his nation's call not just once but four times: first as a Marine, then a Sailor, Soldier and currently as an Airman.

  • U.S., British wounded warriors compete in summer competition

    Approximately 100 U.S. Air Force, Army, Marine Corps and British Armed Forces wounded warriors trained and competed in the second annual Wounded Warrior Summer Invitational Adaptive Sports Tournament at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, July 7-10.

  • Around the world in 27 days

    The first continuous mission around the world for the MC-130J Commando II, the Air Force Special Operations Command's newest platform, ended successfully July 9 with the aircraft's safe return to Cannon Air Force Base, N.M.

  • ISR Agency becomes part of newest Numbered Air Force

    The Air Force Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance Agency is being realigned from Headquarters Air Force as a Field Operating Agency to become part of a new operational Numbered Air Force, or NAF, under Air Combat Command, or ACC, officials said July 11.

  • Air Force creates Air Force Installation and Mission Support Center

    The Air Force is centralizing its installation support management within a newly created Air Force Installation and Mission Support Center, Air Force officials announced July 11. The change resulted from a comprehensive effort to reduce overhead costs; increase efficiencies; eliminate redundant