NATO Air Policing operations

U.S. Air Force News

  • Airmen stop woman from jumping off bridge

    What started as an ordinary day for three Airmen from Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma, soon turned into anything but ordinary.Their quick reaction and application of the Air Force’s wingman concept saved a life May 10, 2017.

  • AF proposes 1,600 personnel increase to command support staffs

    The Air Force plans to increase commander support staff manning across the force by 1,600 by fiscal year 2022 increasing total authorizations to more than 6,300. Currently, the personnel increase calls for 170 officers, 469 enlisted and 961 civilians with all civilian hires authorized for fiscal

  • AF selects 5,166 for promotion to master sergeant

    The Air Force has selected 5,166 technical sergeants for promotion to master sergeant of the 20,169 eligible. The overall selection rate was 25.61 percent, with an average selectee overall score of 523.22. Selectees’ average time-in-grade was 3.86 years, time-in-service was 14.36 years and the

  • Around the Air Force: May 24

    On this look around the Air Force, Air Force senior leaders testified before the Senate Armed Services Committee Strategic Forces Subcommittee on space capabilities, and the Chief of Staff of the Air Force met with airline execs to discuss the pilot shortage. Hosted by Staff Sgt. Traci Keller.

  • AF presents fiscal year 2018 budget

    The Air Force presented its fiscal year 2018 president's budget request May 23, 2017, following the Defense Department and sister services’ budget briefings.

  • Enlisted Airmen selected for 2017 nursing program

    Almost three dozen active-duty enlisted Airmen have been selected for the 2017 Nurse Enlisted Commissioning Program following the April 17-19, 2017, selection board at the Air Force Personnel Center.

  • Goldfein meets with airline executives

    Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David L. Goldfein hosted a National Pilot Sourcing Meeting with airline executives to discuss the national pilot shortage in Alexandria, Virginia, May 18, 2017.

  • EOD disposes unserviceable munitions in Southwest Asia

    A group of EOD technicians, ammunition personnel and firefighters from the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing worked together to dispose of the truckload of unserviceable ordnance in a safe manner in Southwest Asia May 11, 2017. The disposal included close to 8,000 ordnance items and 1,000 pharmaceutical

  • Dragon Lady makes historic appearance at Northern Edge

    Looking across the flightline at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson during previous Northern Edge exercises you would have seen a mass of gray and white aircraft, but this year the distinctly black U-2S Dragon Lady from Beale Air Force Base, California, made its presence known for the first time at

  • Senior leaders discuss US space posture

    On May 17, 2017, Air Force senior leaders testified before the Senate Armed Service Committee Strategic Forces subcommittee on military space, organization, policy and programs.

  • 45th Space Wing enables nation's space mission

    Space launches may soon be an almost weekly sight on Florida's Space Coast. As the need for space lift grows globally, partnerships between the Air Force, other government agencies and the commercial space industry are enhancing the 45th Space Wing's vision of remaining the world's premier gateway

  • 386th AEW navigator commission’s daughter on graduation day

    Now a newly minted second lieutenant, Brittany Peters was set to graduate the ROTC program at the University of North Carolina, and commission into the North Carolina Army National Guard. While deployed to Southwest Asia, Bret Peters made sure he had the technology to swear-in his daughter, via

  • USAF Special Tactics trains to lead, build partnership in Jordan

    Air Force Special Tactics teams, Jordanian Armed Forces Special Task Force and Italy's 17th Stormo Incursori special operations forces secure each building in the compound -- searching for a missing U.S. service member and rendering aid to casualties along the way.

  • C-130 pilot receives 60th Koren Kolligian Jr. Trophy

    Air Force Vice Chief of Staff Gen. Stephen Wilson presented the 2016 Koren Kolligian Jr. Trophy to Maj. John Hourigan, a 123rd Operations Support Squadron C-130 Hercules pilot, at the Pentagon, May 17, 2017, for not only saving the lives of five crewmembers, but also identifying a worldwide C-130

  • Largest African Air Chiefs Symposium to date kicks off

    The seventh annual African Air Chiefs Symposium began in Kasane May 16, 2017. The African Air Chiefs Symposium is an annual forum for air chiefs from across the African continent to come together with the U.S. to discuss important regional and continental issues, and how African air forces can best

  • 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

  • Mattis welcomes new SecAF home

    Defense Secretary Jim Mattis ceremoniously swore in Heather Wilson as the 24th Secretary of the Air Force at the Pentagon May 16, 2017.

  • AF Repair Enhancement Program saves millions of dollars

    The Air Force Repair Enhancement Program here performs marvels all the time. Recently, the four-person shop repaired a $20,000 power supply headed for the trash by replacing a $5 resistor, the equivalent of fixing a $300 phone with an eight-cent paper clip.

  • AFOSI spouse earns Military Spouse of the Year

    Brittany Boccher, the spouse of Master Sgt. Adam Boccher, an Air Force Office of Special Investigations special agent, from Detachment 327 at Little Rock Air Force Base, Arkansas, had a memorable year in 2016. Boccher was selected as the 2016 Little Rock AFB Military Spouse of the Year and the AFOSI

  • Air National Guard senior NCO breaks barriers

    (This feature is part of the "Through Airmen's Eyes" series on AF.mil. These stories focus on a single Airman, highlighting their Air Force story.)With multiple deployments and unique assignments during her 29 plus years of military experience as a munitions system specialist, Chief Master Sgt.

  • Nevada ANG chaplain: 'I want people to know Islam is not evil'

    Laura Magee remembers asking her father about religion when she was 8 while innocently combing her hair in front of a large vanity mirror. It was the first time she can remember asking one of her parents about the existence of a God — which she said her father quickly repudiated. Her parents

  • Deployed Airmen, Marines conquer U.S. Marine Corps Corporal’s Course

    Deployed Airmen at the 407th Air Expeditionary Group were given the opportunity to attend the U.S. Marine Corps’ Corporal’s Course to gain vital skills to be successful as enlisted leaders. Attending alongside their Marine brothers-in-arms, Airmen embarked on the two-week training, which is designed

  • Endpoint cybersecurity technology deployed through AF agreement

    The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center electronic systems development division here and Carbon Black, a locally-based security company, signed a cooperative research and development agreement to improve cybersecurity for the Hanscom Air Force Base Collaboration and Innovation Center.

  • Accelerating hypersonics development

    On May 3, 2017, Air Force senior leaders met to consider options to accelerate hypersonics research and development to break even more speed barriers and ensure continued technological superiority.Hypersonics refers to flying at five times the speed of sound, also known as “Mach 5,” or higher.

  • Focus on fall prevention can reduce serious injuries

    Air Force Occupational Safety will focus on the importance of life-saving fall prevention measures during Fall Prevention Focus, May 8 – 19, 2017, marking the fourth year the Air Force has partnered with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and the National Institute of Occupation

  • Academy cadets compete in UAS competition

    The Air Force Academy took second place to the Naval Academy at the Defense Advanced Research Project Agency sponsored unmanned aerial systems Swarm Competition, April 23-25 at Camp Roberts, California.

  • First combat MQ-1, MQ-9 wing celebrates 10 years at Creech AFB

    The 432nd Wing celebrated their 10th anniversary at Creech Air Force Base as a combat remotely piloted aircraft wing May 1, 2017. In attendance was Gen. Mike Holmes, the Air Combat Command commander, Col. Case Cunningham, the 432nd WG/432nd Air Expeditionary Wing commander, and 400 Airmen of the

  • Hurricane Hunters prepare the Caribbean

    More than 20,000 people attended the Caribbean Hurricane Awareness Tour hosted April 24-29, 2017 by the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron “Hurricane Hunters” and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

  • Airman provides family, haven for orphans

    As an Air Force first sergeant, Chief Master Sgt. Henry Hayes’ job is to take care of others, and whether or not they are in his chain of command, he provides support to those in need. As a first sergeant for Air Combat Command and an ordained minister, Henry Hayes not only shapes the lives of

  • Total force development services now in a single-point center

    The Air Force has consolidated all total force development services and resources to a single-point center. All Airmen (active duty, Reserve, Guard and civilian) will now be able to fully utilize all force development resources through the virtual force development center.

  • Trump presents CINC Trophy to USAFA

    The U.S. Air Force Academy football team received the Commander in Chief’s Trophy from President Donald Trump during a visit to the White House May 2, 2017.

  • Airman balanced through bodybuilding

    As Staff Sgt. Semaj’s alarm screeches throughout her bedroom at 2:30 a.m., she wakes for her morning cardio session, checks on her 6-year-old son, Jamel, and then laces up her running shoes. Semaj, a 432nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron supply craftsman, does this every morning to keep her body in

  • Hill F-16s train in NATO exercise

    Eight F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft and more than 200 Airmen from the active duty 388th Fighter Wing and Air Force Reserve 419th FW from Hill Air Force Base, Utah, are currently at Albacete Air Base, Spain, to participate in the NATO Tactical Leadership Program through May 19, 2017.

  • Weather flight critical to coalition mission

    Dropping bombs on target in Syria and Iraq during combat missions supporting Operation Inherent Resolve requires a complex array of information, including intelligence gathered well in advance of the combat sortie. Often times, this intelligence is gathered by coalition partners flying out of the

  • Air Force holds 100th uniform board meeting

    The 100th meeting of the Air Force Uniform Board convened this month to review ideas and recommendations submitted by Airmen in order to improve or change Air Force uniforms, wear policy and grooming standards.

  • EOD Airmen first to graduate Army air assault school

    Two Airmen from the 386th Civil Engineer Squadron explosive ordnance disposal unit graduated from the U.S. Army Air Assault School held at Camp Buehring, Kuwait, April 14, 2017. The unprecedented graduation was the first time in history that Airmen, while serving on a contingency operation

  • Do you have what it takes to ‘Hack the Air Force’?

    The Air Force is inviting vetted computer security specialists from across the U.S. and select partner nations to do their best to hack some of its key public websites.The initiative is part of the Cyber Secure campaign sponsored by the Air Force’s Chief Information Office as a measure to further

  • Around the Air Force: April 26

    On this look around the Air Force, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David L. Goldfein awards two Airmen the Air Force Cross and President Donald Trump speaks with astronauts who are onboard the International Space Station.

  • Technology of the Future

    Looking much like a handheld vacuum cleaner attached to an extra-large Shop-Vac, the technology that may revolutionize the aircraft structural maintenance shop does not scream “innovation” on first glance. Despite appearances, the capabilities of the neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet (Nd:YAG)

  • MacDill first in AF to host Alpha Warrior tour

    MacDill Air Force Base, Florida, hosted the Air Force’s first stop for the Air Force Alpha Warrior Tour, April 18-19, 2017. The Air Force Services Activity partnered with the Alpha Warrior team to continue building Comprehensive Airman Fitness through the newly initiated Air Force Alpha Warrior

  • Airmen earn Gen. Lew Allen Jr. Award

    Four Airmen received the Gen. Lew Allen Jr. Award on April 21, 2017, during a ceremony at the Pentagon. Lt. Gen. Jerry Harris, the deputy chief of staff for Air Force strategic plans, programs and requirements, presented the awards on behalf of the chief of staff of the Air Force.

  • Goldfein presents two Air Force Crosses

    A 7-foot bronze statue stood prominently over a sea of multicolored berets, flanked by the 21st chief of staff of the Air Force and the Air Force’s newest Air Force Cross recipients.Two Airmen, whose heroics were separated by 11 years and 100 miles in the same war zone, solidified a special tactics

  • Air Force senior enlisted leaders conduct full EPME review

    More than 40 Air Force senior enlisted leaders and subject matter experts met at Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama, April 4-5 to perform an extensive review of all facets of enlisted professional military education during the 2017 EPME Triennial Review.

  • The road to recovery; Airman defines true meaning of resilience

    “I can’t feel my legs, I can’t feel anything.”These were the words spoken by an Airman who would soon experience and overcome a road filled with pain, courage and resilience.Second Lt. Ryan Novack, the 36th Munitions Squadron flight leader, always wanted to race dirt bikes. After learning about a

  • NATO partners conduct close air support exercise

    Today’s fight against terrorism doesn’t rest on the shoulders of one country. It’s a team fight, meaning countries must be interoperable to effectively defeat that threat.To better support the team, members of the German air force’s Air Ground Operations Squadron partnered with the 19th Air Support

  • Wright-Patterson, NMUSAF pay tribute to Doolittle Raid 75th anniversary

    Friends, family and fans from around the country came together to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Doolittle Tokyo Raid April 17-18, 2017, at the National Museum of the United States Air Force located at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. The April 18, 1942, Doolittle Raid on Tokyo was an

  • Rechristening honors Doolittle Raiders’ 75th anniversary

    The 75th anniversary of the Doolittle Tokyo Raiders was commemorated April 17, 2017, at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base as a B-1 Lancer bomber from Ellsworth AFB, South Dakota, was rechristened the “Ruptured Duck”. New nose art was also unveiled on the B-1 in tribute to a B-25 Mitchell bomber flown

  • KMC medics implant AF’s 1st Micra TPS

    The Keesler Medical Center became the first Air Force hospital to implant the world’s smallest pacemaker for patients with bradycardia April 13, 2017.

  • America’s cryptologic wing develops cyberspace warriors

    As one of Air Combat Command’s integral assets, the 70th Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Wing is home to several types of cyberspace warriors, including the exploitation analysts (EA) of the 41st Intelligence Squadron.

  • Resilience: One Airman’s story of faith, service

    Senior Master Sgt. Jon Rousseaux was like many children who grew up in a military family. The self-described man of faith and service followed his father, a retired chief, into the Air Force -- and after 19 years, he is still at it. In fact, he just re-enlisted for four more years. Rousseaux’s years

  • AMC civic leaders learn about global reach execution

    Headquarters Air Mobility Command hosted 30 civic leaders at Scott Air Force Base, Illinois, from April 10-12, 2017, to provide an interactive look into what it takes to execute the rapid global mobility mission every day.

  • Persistent surveillance gives squadron its global purpose

    Deep within the walls of a four story structure along Florida’s Space Coast sits a squadron of Airmen whose number one mission is to detect, identify and locate nuclear explosions anywhere in the world.The Technical Surveillance Squadron (TESS), a subordinate unit to the Air Force Technical

  • Immigrant joins Air Force to give back

    Staff Sgt. Fadi Chreim, a 386th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron vehicle operations dispatch chief, joined the military to give back to the country that brought him in as an immigrant a decade ago.

  • AF Alpha Warrior program ensures Airmen’s functional fitness

    The Air Force Services Activity, or AFSVA, is teaming with obstacle race specialists Alpha Warrior, using equipment similar to that used on the television competition series American Ninja Warrior, to continue building on Comprehensive Airman Fitness.

  • CSAF discusses readiness

    Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David L. Goldfein addressed rebuilding the Air Force’s readiness during a discussion at the Heritage Foundation April 12, 2017, in Washington, D.C.

  • Pilots take brotherhood to new heights

    Maj. Matthew Shelly, the 23d Wing director of inspections and a pilot with the 74th Fighter Squadron, and his little brother, Capt. Christopher Shelly, the 76th Fighter Squadron chief of standards and evaluations, flew in formation together for the first time, April 8, 2017, over Moody AFB.

  • 90th MW provides unwavering nuclear deterrence

    The 90th Missile Wing conducted a successful Simulated Electronic Launch-Minuteman test here April 10-12, 2017. The SELM demonstrates the wing’s capability to provide unwavering nuclear deterrence for the nation.

  • Around the Air Force: April 12

    FORT GEORGE G. MEADE, Md. (AFNS) -- This look around the Air Force features Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David L. Goldfein testifying on Capitol Hill, Little Rock Air Force Base C-130s deliver aid to Peru and more than 1,000 developmental special duty positions are opened. Hosted by Staff Sgt.

  • Airman battles cancer with leadership support

    In February of 2016, Black was almost finished with her technical training at Beale Air Force Base, California, when she said she began to experience abdominal cramps and unusual bloating. When her symptoms worsened, Black decided to visit a doctor to figure out if something was wrong.

  • Razor Talon provides joint training for air, ground components

    The opposing force scurried around the arid airfield to prepare for an oncoming attack. Without warning, a pair of A-10C Thunderbolt IIs screamed toward the airfield and simulated multiple strafing runs decimating a radar jammer. A Tactical Air Control Party specialist embedded with the 82nd

  • Vice Chief, CMSAF visit 386th AEW

    The Air Force Vice Chief of Staff Gen. Stephen W. Wilson and Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force Kaleth O. Wright visited the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing in Southwest Asia, April 9, 2017.

  • Cadets learn about AF through Pathways to Blue

    The third annual Pathways to Blue event, designed to help ROTC cadets make their Air Force career choices, was April 7-8, 2017.The diversity and inclusion event, attended by more than 175 ROTC cadets from seven universities, is a 2nd Air Force initiative aimed to help build future leaders in the Air

  • CSAF Prestigious Captains Ph.D. Program application window open

    The application window is open for active-duty Air Force captains interested in applying for the Chief of Staff of the Air Force Captains Prestigious Ph.D. Program which exposes rising officers to a unique learning experience at a top-tier university.

  • 480th ISRG fills training gap

    The transition from technical school to duty station created issues within the intelligence community that couldn’t be addressed with on-the-job training alone.

  • Operation Homefront recognizes 2017 AF Military Child of the Year

    Eighteen-year-old Jamal Braxton has a busy schedule. The high school senior holds various leadership positions with the Red Cross, participates in multiple varsity sport programs and is a lifeguard. He accomplishes all this as a military child and the challenges inherent in military family life.

  • Airmen’s Week: Changing the culture of Airmen

    After the completion of Basic Military Training, but before Airmen depart for their various technical training locations, lies a relatively new, yet crucial program geared toward the betterment of the Air Force: Airmen’s Week. Airmen’s Week is a 31-hour, values-based course with a mission to

  • Innovation enhances safety, leads to international recognition

    Air traffic control is serious business. Every day thousands of flights take off and land all across the U.S. Dedicated professionals known as air traffic controllers are responsible for monitoring every flight and coordinating with aircrews and people on the ground.

  • AMC, industry partner to enhance virtual training

    Canadian Aviation Electronics USA, the primary contractor for the KC-135 Stratotanker aircrew training system, recently received authorization to operate on the Air Force’s Distributed Training Center Network. KC-135 Stratotanker simulators will now be connected to other Air Force mobility platforms

  • Air advising, it’s a family affair

    Growing up watching her father put the uniform on day in and day out motivated her to follow in his footsteps and become an Airman, but she never imagined she would get the opportunity to serve alongside her hero.

  • Goldfein: Continuing resolution detrimental to Air Force

    With the threat of a yearlong continuing resolution lingering, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David L. Goldfein and his fellow service chiefs called on Congress to approve an appropriation bill for fiscal year 2017 during a hearing on the topic April 5, 2017 on Capitol Hill.

  • 9th AF provides first Rear Mission Support Element training

    Sixty Airmen who completed the first two official Air Force Rear Mission Support Element training courses are participating in War Fighter Exercise 17-4 at Fort Hood, Texas, through April 12. The exercise is part of their deployment training to support operations at Combined Joint Task

  • Freeze-dried plasma to the rescue

    Since hemorrhage is the leading cause of preventable death in combat casualties, Air Force Special Operations Command is improving access to blood products on the battlefield.

  • Airmen train, advise, assist Iraqi AF

    Airmen of the 370th and 770th Air Expeditionary Advisory Squadrons play an important role in assisting the Iraqi military by sending critical cargo and forces downrange to support the fight against Islamic State in Iraq and Syria. These Airmen are responsible for advising and assisting the Iraqi air