NATO Air Policing operations

U.S. Air Force News

  • Tech. Sgt. John Chapman inducted into Hall of Heroes at Pentagon

    Nearly two decades after the gallant actions that cost him his life and earned him the nation's highest military award, Chapman’s name was unveiled by his widow, Valerie Nessel, Secretary of the Air Force Heather A. Wilson, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David L. Goldfein and Chief Master Sgt. of the

  • Hurricane Hunters fly Hurricane Lane as storm targets Hawaiian Islands

    The Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunters are continuing to monitor Hurricane Lane which is projected to hit the main Hawaiian Islands the afternoon of Aug. 23. The 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squdron, based out of Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi, began flying into Hurricane Lane out of the

  • Advanced training prepares boom operators for future

    Within the past year, KC-10 Extender boom operators have been receiving cutting-edge, three-dimensional simulator training and life-size cargo load training that benefits the boom operator career field around the world.

  • Passing the guidon: Ray takes command of AFGSC

    Gen. Timothy Ray took command of Air Force Global Strike Command from Gen. Robin Rand, outgoing AFGSC commander, during a ceremony, Aug. 21. He is the newest leader of the Air Force’s portion of the nuclear enterprise, which maintains the nation's only force of Minuteman III intercontinental

  • Breaking barriers: Miller nominated as AF Reserve's first 4-star

    Lt. Gen. Maryanne Miller was nominated by President Donald Trump and confirmed by the U.S. Senate for promotion to the rank of general Aug. 20. Miller will become the first Airman in the history of the Air Force Reserve to pin on a fourth star. In 2016, she became the first female chief of the Air

  • Around the Air Force: Aug. 17

    FORT GEORGE G. MEADE, Md. (AFNS) – On this look Around the Air Force, a second contract is awarded to construct a prototype hypersonic weapon and Colombian Airmen refuel USAF aircraft for the first time. Hosted by Tech. Sgt. Samantha Ducker.

  • Aircraft parts store: No one flies without supplies

    The 100th Logistics Readiness Squadron is one of the largest squadrons at RAF Mildenhall, and is the beating heart that keeps the Bloody Hundredth’s mission going.RAF Mildenhall is one of the few bases with an aircraft parts store open 24 hours; leaving no room for a pause in the mission with a

  • Exercise Pitch Black 2018 strengthens alliances

    Exercise Pitch Black 2018 is a Royal Australian Air Force-hosted biennial multinational large force employment exercise held from July 27 through Aug. 17. This year’s event, the largest since its inception, involves 16 nations, 140 aircraft and more than 4,000 personnel – approximately 150 of which

  • Around the Air Force: Aug. 15

    On this look Around the Air Force, Chief of Staff of the Air Force Gen. David Goldfein keeps his focus on revitalizing squadrons, and the Air Force trains students in a three-week pilot training camp. Hosted by Tech. Sgt. Samantha Ducker.

  • Load crews train for deployment operations

    Imagine mission success laying on the shoulders of the individuals to your right and left. For one team of Airmen, the shortcomings of one can be catastrophic to the task at hand. These groups of professionals assigned to the 20th Maintenance Group, spanning three fighter squadrons, work in unison

  • Air Force awards hypersonic weapon contract

    Today the Air Force has awarded a contract not to exceed $480,000,000 to Lockheed Martin Missiles & Fire Control to begin designing a second hypersonic weapon prototype.

  • The ART of training the total force

    In July, the 480th Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Wing’s ART held a Total Force Integration Conference at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, allowing ART members from throughout the geographically separated Wing to connect for three days with over 160 peers from other services and nations,

  • Revitalizing squadrons, Air Force outlines progress

    The task force conducted an Air Force-wide review, driven by Airmen in the field, to promote best practices and identify improvements. Consisting of Total Force Airmen from diverse backgrounds, they reviewed survey data and gathered inputs from across the Air Force through on-line crowd sourcing and

  • Ga. cadets rescue man from sinking vehicle after wreck

    A late-night drive home from a squadron meeting quickly turned into a rescue scenario recently when two Georgia Wing Civil Air Patrol cadets swam to a rapidly sinking SUV in the middle of a rural pond and extracted the dazed driver.

  • Goodfellow AFB welcomes Royal Thai Air Force

    A delegation from the Royal Thai Air Force, led by Air Vice Marshall Pongsawat Jantasarn and Pacific Air Forces senior leaders, visited Goodfellow Air Force Base to learn more about the base’s growing international intelligence training program Aug. 2.

  • Air Force seeks nominations for SecAF Prestigious STEM PhD Program

    As part of a continuous effort to develop exceptional leaders in a highly technical environment, Secretary of the Air Force Heather Wilson is introducing the Secretary of the Air Force Prestigious Science, Technology, Engineering and Math Ph.D. Program for the service’s most highly qualified active

  • Aircrew practice Mayday over water

    More than 30 Airmen participated in water survival training at Patrick Air Force Base, Florida, August 4th, to hone the skills needed in an emergency water landing.

  • Pawlikowski tenure marked by effectiveness, Air Force readiness

    Gen. Ellen M. Pawlikowski will retire from the Air Force in September following 40 years of service. As only the third femalefour-star general in the history of the Air Force, Pawlikowski’s career was marked by extraordinary achievements across the science and engineering domains.

  • Galaxy wraps upgrades to become C-5M Super Galaxy

    The first flight of the Lockheed Martin C-5 Galaxy took place on June 30, 1968, with an audience including President Lyndon Johnson. Now, 50 years later, the Super Galaxy is still going strong.

  • KC-46 pilot selection board calls for nominations

    Pilots interested in becoming KC-46 tanker pilots to fill positions in the Air Force’s first two operational KC-46 squadrons at McConnell Air Force Base, Kansas, have until Sept. 7, 2018, to submit their application packages. (U.S. Air Force graphic by Kat Bailey)

  • Airmen support Q-West airfield alongside Iraqis

    The average day for air traffic controllers involves a lot of moving parts and Airmen working constantly to ensure safe and secure air flow. For Qayyarah Airfield West, Iraq, this rests solely on the shoulders of just a few people.Not only do those Airmen control the airspace, at the airfield

  • Hill AFB Airmen, aircraft progress together as F-35A program matures

    Two years after the Air Force declared initial operational capability for the F-35A Lightning II, pilots and maintainers at Hill Air Force Base’s active duty 388th and reserve 419th Fighter Wings are steadily erasing the word “initial” from in front of “operational capability.”

  • Around the Air Force: Aug. 2

    On this look Around the Air Force, 16 years after making the ultimate sacrifice Tech. Sgt. John A. Chapman will be posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor and Pacific Air Forces welcomes a new commander. Hosted by Staff Sgt. Nicholas Koetz.

  • Around the Air Force: July 30

    On this look Around the Air Force, the Air Force has a new app for Airmen, KC-135 crews test out the Joint Service Aircrew Mask, and the 943rd Rescue Squadron wins Best in Show at the 2018 Royal International Air Tattoo. Hosted by Airman 1st Class Marqus Williams.

  • Airman posthumously receives Medal of Honor

    The White House announced July 27, 2018, that Air Force Tech. Sgt. John Chapman will be posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor Aug. 22, for his extraordinary heroism during the Battle of Takur Ghar, Afghanistan, in March 2002.

  • Airman to be awarded Medal of Honor

    President Donald Trump will posthumously award the Medal of Honor to the family of a fallen U.S. Air Force Special Tactics Combat Controller at a ceremony Aug. 22 for his extraordinary heroism in March 2002 while deployed to Afghanistan.

  • Vice President, Second Lady visit Grand Forks AFB

    Vice President of the United States Michael Pence spoke with Airmen at Grand Forks Air Force Base, N.D., July 25, 2018, while Karen Pence, the Second Lady of the United States, hosted a seminar for military spouses.

  • Airmen, medical researchers team up for inflight TIS training

    Airmen from the 628th and 375th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadrons from Joint Base Charleston and Scott Air Force Base, Illinois, along with medical researchers from universities in Indiana and Nebraska, conducted Transportation Isolation System training July 18, on a flight from JB Charleston to

  • Thunderbirds announce 2019 officer selections

    The commander of Air Combat Command, Gen. Mike Holmes, has officially selected the officers who will be joining the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds for the 2019 demonstration season.

  • F-22 pilots fire live missiles at Combat Archer

    More than 200 pilots, maintainers and operations support staff from the 1st Fighter Wing are gaining firsthand experience in loading and firing live missiles at Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida, from July 6-20, 2018.

  • Around the Air Force: July 20

    FORT GEORGE G. MEADE, Md. (AFNS) – On this look around the Air Force the Colombian Air Force joins U.S. Airmen in exercise Red Flag 18-3, and there are changes to the Post 9/11 G.I. Bill benefits transfer policy. Hosted by Staff Sgt. Nicholas Koetz.

  • SecAF Wilson returns to RAF Mildenhall, discusses innovation, strategy

    When then 2nd Lt. Heather Wilson joined the Air Force in 1985, her very first assignment was to the 3rd Air Force at RAF Mildenhall. Now, Secretary of the Air Force Wilson returned to RAF Mildenhall July 12, to learn about the new innovations the Airmen have since created, and to speak about the

  • International rescue effort saves trapped soccer team

    Twelve boys ranging from age 11 to 16, along with their soccer coach, found themselves stranded in a cave in Thailand’s Chiang Rai province, June 23, 2018. After 17 days entrapment, an international rescue team successfully ended a nearly 3-week operation.

  • Air Force formalizes Air Force One replacement deal with contract to Boeing

    The U.S. Air Force awarded a contract to The Boeing Company to design, modify, test, certify and deliver two presidential, mission-ready aircraft by 2024.This contract action formalizes President Trump’s agreement reached with Dennis Muilenburg, Boeing chairman, president, and CEO, Feb. 20, 2018.

  • Around the Air Force: July 18, 2018

    On this look Around the Air Force the KC-46 Pegasus program completes its final flight tests, and five Airmen receive the Air Force’s first ever “R” device for their actions in combat operations. Hosted by Staff Sgt. Nicholas Koetz.

  • Colombian Kfirs fighters train with the A-10, F-16

    Six Colombian Air Force Kfir fighter jets on their way to Red Flag 18-3 at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, stopped at Davis-Monthan AFB from July 5-16, to train with A-10 Thunderbolt IIs and F-16 Fighting Falcons.

  • CSAF strengthens Air Force ties in Italy

    Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David L. Goldfein visited several air bases across Italy July 5-9, 2018, where he met with military and political leaders to strengthen international partnerships.

  • Former CSAF awarded for analytic achievements

    Former Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz was presented the 2017 Lt. Gen. Glenn A. Kent Leadership Award by Kevin Williams, director of Air Force Studies, Analyses and Assessments, at the Pentagon, July 13, 2018.

  • CSAF praises Airmen, mission at Aviano

    The Air Force Chief of Staff spent the day with Wyvern Warriors to get a first-hand look at how Aviano Air Base, Italy, directly deters adversaries and defends the U.S. and its allies.

  • Around the Air Force: July 12

    On this look Around the Air Force, Airmen are helping fight wildfires in Colorado, the 53rd Reconnaissance Squadron helps predict hurricane movement, and the Olmstead Scholar Program allows officers to become fluent in a foreign language. Hosted by Senior Airman Jasmine Vanderheyden.

  • SecAF, DoD, industry leaders share stage at 2018 AFITC

    Secretary of the Air Force Heather Wilson and the service’s new assistant secretary for acquisitions, technology and logistics, Dr. Will Roper, are two of the military keynote speakers sharing the stage with industry leaders at this year’s Air Force Information Technology and Cyberpower Conference.

  • Hurricane Hunters fly Tropical Storms Beryl, Chris

    The Air Force Reserve’s Hurricane Hunters spent the weekend flying weather reconnaissance missions into Tropical Storm Chris off the North Carolina coastline and Tropical Storm Beryl in the Caribbean Sea to gather data for the National Hurricane Center in Miami.

  • From nothing to something – Cargo City takes shape

    Construction is nearly complete on ‘Cargo City,’ a new operating location for U.S. and coalition forces to conduct aerial port operations in Kuwait. This aerial port will continue to serve as a major-military logistics point, and also functions as the largest aerial port of debarkation in the Middle

  • 301st Rescue Squadron supports SpaceX resupply rocket launch

    Airmen from the 301st Rescue Squadron supported the successful launch of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket June 29, 2018. The launch of the Falcon 9 marked its fifteenth commercial resupply services mission lifting off at 5:42:42 a.m. EDT, from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station,

  • JBLE Airman helps save drowning girl

    A child was drowning at Fort Monroe Beach, Virginia, May 13, 2018. When medical services arrived, they found a young girl who had been rescued from the water and was safe in her mother’s arms. The nine year old had gone swimming, when the current took her into deeper waters where she could no longer

  • Life-saving act molds Airman’s future

    Three years ago, Tech. Sgt. Julian Tayag was closing the pharmacy for the duty day with his wingman when tragedy nearly struck. Three years later, this event would culminate in his acceptance into the Interservice Physician Assistant Program.

  • Air Force Widow vows to bring awareness to invisible wounds

    Air Force veteran Stacey Pavenski, 46, of Palm Bay, Florida, has post traumatic stress disorder, but she didn’t get it from serving in combat. It came from her husband’s combat struggles that drove him to take his own life in their bedroom, Sept. 18, 2017, while she was in the kitchen. He was 45.

  • AFCENT A1 gives time back to pre-deploying Airmen

    The U.S. Air Forces Central Command’s Manpower, Personnel and Services Directorate (A1) began the second phase of decreasing pre-deployment requirements for Airmen preparing to enter AFCENT’s area of responsibility. AFCENT Deployment Streamlining version 2.0 was released and became effective June

  • 633rd MDSS tests new Expeditionary Medical Systems equipment

    The Air Combat Command Surgeon General Office partnered with representatives from the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center to conduct an exercise testing new joint expeditionary collective protection tent systems at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia, June 20, 2018.

  • JBLE exemplifies CMSAF initiatives

    The Airmen at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia, are at the forefront of implementing Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force Kaleth O. Wright’s three initiatives – resiliency, leadership and training.

  • SecAF Wilson talks Air Force innovation across JBSA, Austin

    Secretary of the Air Force Heather Wilson visited AFWERX-Austin, Pilot Training Next and Joint Base San Antonio June 27-29 to see firsthand the focus Airmen in the area are placing on improving readiness, cost-effective modernization and developing exceptional leaders.

  • 20th EBS aid in rescue off coast of Guam

    The B-52 is world-famous for its long-range capabilities, but during a routine flight near Guam June 25, 2018, crew members with the 20th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron, stationed at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana, and deployed to Andersen AFB, were tasked with a unique situation: to use their

  • 88th SFS named 2018 Verne Orr Award winner

    Air Force officials recently named the 88th Security Forces Squadron at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, as the winner of the 2018 Air Force Association Verne Orr Award.

  • Around the Air Force: June 29

    On this look Around the Air Force, an Air Force astronaut prepares for six months on the International Space Station, Space X is awarded a launch contract, and Romanian Airmen graduate from the Senior NCO Academy. Hosted by Airman First Class Marqus Williams.

  • BLUE: Episode 25 Pilot Pipeline

    The Air Force’s pilot shortage is a complex issue, but when the Air Force starts seeing the signs that they need to do something different, Airmen innovate through technology and processes. Take a journey through the pilot pipeline to see solutions Airmen have implemented in each fighter-pilot

  • Sisters in service: Closing the joint warfighter’s diversity gap

    The Joint Women’s Leadership Symposium at the San Diego Convention Center June 20-22, 2018, included attendees from the U.S. Air Force, Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard and other service members from 20 different countries. As the largest gathering of military women in the nation, it marked the