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U.S. Air Force News

  • Deployed husband, wife meet-- as replacements

    The 455th Air Expeditionary Wing finance management office not only provides financial customer service, it also plays an important role in the accomplishment of the 455 AEW mission by executing the wing budget to fund all mission requirements.

  • Royal and U.S. airmen train for real world

    Moody AFB security forces Airmen and No. 1 Royal Air Force Regiment allies learned tactics, techniques and procedures from each other during exercise Global Eagle Oct. 7-18 here.

  • AF leaders describe future force under sequestration

    Two senior Air Force leaders testified before Congress Oct. 23 along with their Army and Navy counterparts on the impact of the continuing resolution and sequestration on the service’s acquisition and modernization programs.

  • Football legend Herschel Walker visits Airmen, wounded warriors

    Heisman Trophy winner and former NFL running back Herschel Walker visited Airmen from the Wilford Hall Ambulatory Surgical Center Oct. 23, at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland. Walker spoke to more than 200 Airmen about his life as a boy, leading up to his college and NFL days. He also discussed the

  • AFI change simplifies fitness appeal process

    Airmen who fail their fitness assessment now may appeal to their wing commanders rather than submit an appeal to the Air Force Board for Corrections of Military Records, Air Force Personnel Center officials said.

  • Celebrated pilot and Vietnam POW dies at 88

    Retired Brig. Gen. Robinson “Robbie” Risner, a celebrated Korean War jet fighter ace and Vietnam prisoner of war, died Oct. 22 at Bridgewater Retirement Community, Bridgewater, Va. He was 88 years old.

  • Wilson takes command of Global Strike Command

    Lt. Gen. Stephen Wilson took command of Air Force Global Strike Command during a ceremony here Oct. 23, becoming the newest leader of the organization responsible for the nation's force of ICBMs and nuclear-capable bombers.

  • Leaders continue to tap “innovative” Airmen for energy savings

    Air Force leadership calls upon Airmen to continue coming up with innovative ideas to provide the Air Force an assured energy advantage in air, space and cyberspace. In fiscal year 2012, the Air Force spent $9.2 billion on energy, almost 10 percent of the total budget. In a time of fiscal

  • 21 selected for training, recruiting squadron command

    Twenty-one officers from various Air Force career fields have been selected for Air Education and Training Command training and recruiting squadron command opportunities, Air Force Personnel Center officials announced.

  • AF implements changes to PT assessment

    The Air Force has released further guidance on the implementation of several changes to the physical assessment test, which will take place Oct. 21.The new guidance includes additions to the body composition component of the fitness assessment, delegation of appeal authority for fitness assessments

  • Government Shutdown: Frequently Asked Questions

    Below are frequently asked questions about the current government shutdown (Updated: Oct. 17, 2013). If you don’t find the answer to a question you have about the government shutdown and its impact on the Air Force, post your question as a comment below. We will research and try to find the

  • 20th Air Force commander relieved of command

    Lt. Gen. James Kowalski, commander of Air Force Global Strike Command, relieved Maj. Gen. Michael Carey from command of 20th Air Force today due to a loss of trust and confidence in his leadership and judgment.

  • National Guard faces the shutdown

    National Guard personnel are feeling the effects of the government shutdown and leaders are worried about the readiness of the component, Air Force Gen. Joseph Lengyel, the vice chief of the National Guard Bureau said today.

  • Public engagement once again affected

    Deputy Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter has issued The Contingency Plan Guidance for Continuation of Essential Operations, which outlines missions and functions that may continue and/or must cease during the lapse in appropriations. The Department can legally only support those functions that

  • Communication key in protecting security clearance during financial hardships

    As the government shutdown continues, Air Force leadership wants their civilian workforce to communicate well and often as possible financial challenges arise -- something that could impact one’s security clearance. With such a large number of civilians possessing security clearances, including many

  • Hagel receives update on shutdown from service leaders

    The Defense Department's top leadership, including the service secretaries and service chiefs, updated Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel yesterday on the impact of the ongoing government shutdown, Pentagon officials reported.

  • Shutdown endangers reserve component readiness

    Reserve component personnel continue to be affected by the government shutdown, and officials are concerned about readiness. Within DOD, the reserve components are the Army National Guard, the Air National Guard, the Army Reserve, the Air Force Reserve, the Navy Reserve and the Marine Corps Reserve.

  • Poland's top enlisted airman tours PME facilities

    Poland's air force senior enlisted leader is partnering with U.S. Air Forces in Europe and Air Forces Africa officials to strengthen his service's operational capacity. But his efforts are focused on a more foundational level of airpower - enlisted professional military education.

  • F-35: New fighter creates new culture for 21st Century and beyond

    She didn’t have a smudge on her. Not a leak found anywhere. She even had that “new jet smell.” Skies were blue, everything was perfect. Those were the conditions on that July day in 2011 when Lt. Col. Eric Smith took off from the Lockheed facilities at Fort Worth, Texas, in the first operational

  • Upgrade gives B-52 more teeth

    The B-52 Stratofortress is set to receive an upgrade that will significantly increase its weapons payload, officials said.

  • Service chiefs detail 2014 sequestration effects

    The House Armed Services Committee heard testimony on planning for sequestration in fiscal 2014 from Army Chief of Staff Gen. Ray Odierno, Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Jonathan W. Greenert, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark A. Welsh III and Marine Corps Commandant Gen. James F. Amos.

  • Airman reflects on recovery, resiliency

    While driving southbound on I-95 in Virginia in June 2011, an 18-wheeler struck the car behind the then-staff sergeant, creating a chain reaction. The collision resulted in a four-car accident, blowing out all four windows and totaling Barnett's car, leaving her injured.

  • Software update keeps B-52 at forefront of bomber fleet

    The B-52 Stratofortress will soon receive a software upgrade that will keep the aircraft at the forefront of the U.S. strategic bomber fleet.As new equipment and advanced weapons are added to the B-52 fleet, the B-52 Software Block (BSB) upgrades allow the aircraft to utilize the full potential of

  • B-2 pilot surpasses 1,000 hours mark

    A routine flying mission became a major achievement for the Missouri Air National Guard’s 131st Bomb Wing when Maj. Luke Jayne surpassed 1,000 flying hours in the B-2 Spirit Sept. 14.

  • 12 Outstanding Airmen of the Year shine at gala

    The Air Force’s 12 Outstanding Airmen of the Year earned praise at a dinner hosted by the Air Force Association as part of the 2013 Air and Space Conference and Technology Exposition here Sept. 16.

  • Nominations accepted for Flemming award

    Air Force officials are accepting nominations for the 65th Annual Arthur S. Flemming Award.The award is sponsored by the George Washington University, in conjunction with the Arthur S. Flemming Awards Commission. It honors outstanding federal employees who have made significant and extraordinary

  • Buckley nerve center for FEMA flood victims support

    With more than a 1,000 people unaccounted for and communities still damaged from flooding, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, staged out of Buckley Air Force Base, Colo., continues providing life-essential materials to Coloradans in need.

  • Airmen, Air Force Association leaders lay wreath at Air Force Memorial

    The Air Force's 12 Outstanding Airmen of the Year, Air Force senior leaders and Air Force Association members gathered for an early morning memorial service and wreath laying ceremony Sept 15, at the Air Force Memorial Arlington, Va. Laying the wreath were Air Force Assistant Vice Chief of Staff Lt.

  • Airman receives International Affairs Excellence Award

    During the Air Force Association’s 2013 Air & Space Conference and Technology Exposition here today, an Air Force lieutenant colonel accepted the 2013 International Affairs Excellence Award for his leadership efforts downrange.

  • Team works to heal, help injured ARC Airmen

    Air Reserve Component members who are injured or develop an illness while on active duty orders now have a centrally located team of specialists working to help them get well, get their benefits, and get back to their life.

  • Deployed Airmen trailblazers of Reaper world

    At Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan, the men and women of the 451st Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron are building the heritage of Reaper Airmen as they develop the institutional knowledge for one of the nation's newer air warfare assets.

  • Broncos run away with 42-20 win over Falcons

    Air Force kept pace with the powerful Boise State Broncos in the first half but ran out of gas in the second, allowing Boise State to stampede to a 42-20 win at Bronco Stadium Sept. 13.

  • AF schedules closing for Continental Group housing

    The Air Force Civil Engineer Center has completed the transaction closing for the Continental Group Housing Privatization project with Corvias Military Living. On Sept. 1, Corvias assumed full housing operations at all six Continental Group bases: Edwards Air Force Base, Calif; Eglin AFB, Fla.,

  • Aviano couple receives first same-sex join spouse assignment

    Master Sgt. Angela Shunk and Tech. Sgt. Stacy Shunk received the news they had been longing for on Sept. 3, 2013, when the two Aviano Airmen were informed that they had received an assignment together under the join spouse program - the first of its kind in the Air Force since a Supreme Court

  • Airman saves teen during remote outing

    Sunday afternoon, Sept. 1, Maj. Jaesin White and his family set out on a hike to a popular swimming hole in the Sierra foothills of Northern California. They never suspected the path they followed into the woods that day would lead them into the heart of a grateful stranger.

  • Virtual fitness kiosks set up at 66 locations

    To help improve total force fitness levels, the Air Force is installing "Fitness on Request" kiosks at 66 locations by the end of September, Air Force Personnel Center officials said.Part of the Operational Fitness Program, the kiosks are available to all Airmen, including retirees and family

  • Deployed Airmen remember Dominguez, serve on 9/11 anniversary

    Sept. 11 is never too far from the hearts and minds of the 105th Security Forces Squadron deployed here from Stewart Air National Guard Base in Newburgh, New York. Through mementos and each other, they remember one unit member who was killed during the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.Nearly 3,000 people

  • Airman makes a splash while giving back to community

    In 2011, Lance Thornton, then a Buffalo (N.Y.) State College student-athlete, hung up his goggles and swimwear to join the Air Force and eventually sharing his aquatic skills with the Montgomery YMCA Barracudas swim team.

  • Near death spurs trainer to change people's lives

    Looking at Paul Johnson, 56th Force Support Squadron fitness specialist supervisor, one sees a strong, muscular, fit man. But, he says he wasn't always that way. It was a near-death experience that spurred a decision in him to not only continue strength training but also change other people's lives

  • Serving country, African wild animals part of routine for ANG Airman

    For one Missouri National Guardsman, life as a Citizen-Airman is far from the wilds of her civilian career. Airman Casey Self, a zookeeper at the Kansas City Zoo, joined the 131st Bomb Wing to expand her resume from taking care of animals on land and water to people in the sky as well.

  • Program gives Airman opportunity to attend Academy

    For most cadets, this represents their initial basic training experience and the beginning of their path to becoming an Air Force officer, but a few cadets in each class have taken the long road to Jacks Valley.

  • USAFE-AFAFRICA medical units conduct EMEDS

    U.S. Air Forces in Europe and Air Forces Africa medical units participated in expeditionary medical support training to challenge their medical readiness skills Aug. 25 - 30 here. The EMEDS training included realistic scenarios for the Airmen, where they had to perform emergency medical treatments

  • AFSA conference encourages, informs Airmen

    The strength and impact of the NCO corps was the theme of the night as Acting Secretary of the Air Force Eric Fanning was keynote speaker during the Air Force Sergeants Association Convention and Professional Airmen's Conference banquet Aug. 28 in San Antonio, Texas.

  • Flight medic stays grounded, keeps AF flying

    Although the 65th Air Base Wing has no owned aircraft, Lajes Field's strategic importance as the world's only mid-Atlantic military airfield ensures that one Lajes Field medical technician stays plenty busy. Even though only a handful of rated officers are assigned to the wing, Staff Sgt. Yvette

  • Testing, tactics, training: Training squadron sets the bar

    The 505th Test Squadron provides testing, tactics development and training for the United States military and coalition forces. Their focus is on providing advanced air operations center training and AOC testing and tactics development at the operational level of war.

  • Airman's talents 'brighten' wherever he goes

    The Air Force did not teach him these skills, but his gift has been recognized, and the units he has been assigned to have benefited from it. When he talks about his craft, he smiles in a way, which can only be expressed when talking about a true passion.Because of this, Senior Airman Sean Connolly

  • 129th Rescue Wing continues fighting Rim Fire

    Air National Guardsmen from the 129th Rescue Wing have performed more than 400 bucket drops resulting in over 188,000 gallons of water dropped since they began fighting the Rim Fire August 20.

  • AF Heritage: Gen. Tinker still honored by native Indian tribe

    During the early days of World War II, an Army Air Corps major general, who was an Oklahoma native, and member of the Osage Indian tribe, was named to lead the air effort in Hawaii following Pearl Harbor. Maj. Gen. Clarence L. Tinker managed to stay close to his tribe during his 30 plus years as a

  • USAFE-AFAFRICA commander talks challenges, change

    Gen. Frank Gorenc shared his enthusiasm for becoming the new U.S. Air Forces in Europe and Air Forces Africa commander and spoke about challenges the command faces and how to overcome them, in an interview here Aug. 16.

  • AF leaders visit Kadena to thank Airmen

    Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark A. Welsh III and Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James A. Cody and their spouses met with Airmen and families here Aug. 21-22.

  • Joint training helps readiness, saves dollars

    In an effort to save dollars and increase mission effectiveness, 41 students from across the Area of Responsibility, including enlisted, officers and chief warrant officers representing every service, attended two 10-day joint tactical data link courses in the Combined Air and Space Operations

  • Command and Control ... Total Flexibility

    Airmen employ the Air Force’s other four interdependent and enduring core missions through robust, adaptable, and survivable command and control systems. Using the specialized skills of over 53,000 command and control Airmen, the Air Force provides access to reliable communications and information

  • 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.

  • California National Guard battles wildfires

    Nearly a dozen aircraft and crews from the California Air and Army National Guard are battling wildfires across Northern California. Currently, nine California Army National Guard helicopters and two California Air National Guard air tankers are working in coordination with California's Department

  • Recruiter’s post-tornado effort has lasting impact

    As the massive 1.3-mile-wide tornado approached Moore, Okla., May 20, Staff Sgt. Tim Smith took shelter along with his family, neighbors and dogs."I arrived home 10 minutes before the tornado hit my neighborhood," said Smith, an Enlisted Accessions recruiter in Norman, Okla. "My wife, my son and I

  • Air guard director hosts first all-call

    Remaining operationally engaged, the fiscal climate, furloughs and serving with distinction were topics frankly discussed by the director of the Air National Guard, Lt. Gen. Stanley E. Clarke III, at his first All-Call Aug 14 here.

  • Maintaining aircraft integrity one coat at a time

    With a new state-of-the-art Corrosion Control Facility on Aviano, aircrafts are now serviced in-house for a quarter of the cost.Up until last year, all F-16 Fighting Falcons on Aviano were sent to either Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, or a Belgian based aerospace company for repainting, costing the

  • Air Force Vision

    America is—and always will be—an aerospace nation. To fully realize the Nation’s aerospace potential, President Truman established an independent Air Force in 1947 to better protect America, its citizens, and its allies. From this beginning, we have grown airpower into the ability to project global

  • AF names DOD leadership program participants

    Six officers have been selected for the Department of Defense Executive Leadership Development Program, Air Force Personnel Center officials said.This program is designed specifically for highly-motivated, active-duty officers who have demonstrated outstanding leadership ability, commitment to

  • PHOTO ESSAY: One team, one fight

    Airmen assigned to the 64th Agressor Squadron at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., are charged with preparing the combat air forces, joint and allied aircrews for tomorrow's victories with challenging and realistic threat replication, training, academics and feedback.

  • Eglin AFB F-35 fleet exceeds 2K sorties, training presses on

    Airmen and Marines assigned to the F-35 Integrated Training Center at the 33rd Fighter Wing here have consistently flown successful training sorties and generated their 2,000th sortie Aug. 13 with an instructor pilot of the Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron-501 (VMFAT-501), at the

  • Message from CSAF

    Since the Air Force was born in 1947, the core missions of the United States Air Force haven’t fundamentally changed.

  • Unique testing helps warfighter, saves lives

    When large transport or rotary-wing aircraft support a mission in a deployed location, there's always the threat of those wanting to harm to the lives and assets onboard. That includes risks from a range of shoulder-fired, vehicle-mounted and other infrared-guided missiles capable of following the

  • Security forces Airmen -- ready to roll

    The 1st Special Operations Security Forces Squadron's bike patrol make their rounds almost daily through base housing and other designated areas, making their presence known with the goal of community policing and mobility in mind.

  • Leaders discuss roles of reserve components

    Continuing to perform an operational role, while solving manpower costs and dealing with shrinking defense budgets, was one of the challenges discussed by military and civilian leaders at the Reserve Officers Association 2013 National Security Symposium here Aug. 7-10.

  • Innovative Airmen modify mobile A/C unit

    Performing in extreme temperatures is the norm for many deployed service members, and adjustments in operations tempos are necessary to complete the mission on time to accommodate heat stress conditions. Two innovative Airmen assigned to the 379th Expeditionary Operations Support Squadron here

  • Vehicles on the road, iron in the air

    With more than 45 different airframes in the Air Force's inventory totaling more than 5,500 aircraft, each one relies expert teams and equipment to keep them ready to fly at a moment's notice. The maintainers on the ground, on the other hand, also rely on a variety of vehicles and ground equipment

  • First ANG bomb wing certified for nuclear operations

    The Air National Guard celebrated a historic milestone this week as the 131st Bomb Wing, the nation’s only Guard unit to fly and maintain the B-2 Spirit, was certified to conduct the nuclear mission upon completion of their initial nuclear surety inspection.

  • 45th Space Wing launches satellite

    The 45th Space Wing successfully launched a United Launch Alliance-built Delta IV rocket carrying the sixth Wideband Global Satcom (WGS) satellite at 8:29 p.m., Aug. 7 from Space Launch Complex 37B here.A combined team of military, government civilians and contractors from across the 45th SW

  • Changes to BE WELL mean more choices for Airmen

    The BE WELL program, an Air Force-wide program designed to provide Airmen and Air Force leaders with resources to optimize fitness and health, now offers more choices and increased flexibility, thanks to a revamp that went into effect July 1.The Balanced Eating, Work Out Effectively, Living Longer,

  • Military Spouse of the Year, committed to National Guard families

    The schedule of a military spouse is an arduous one. Appointments, dinners, and family time are vital to maintaining normalcy despite the strain of military life.Alicia Hinds Ward, the 2013 Armed Forces Insurance Military Spouse of the Year, is another in the long line of military mothers and

  • ANG contingency response, Army units test earthquake response

    Nearly 100 members of the Kentucky Air National Guard's 123rd Contingency Response Group and the U.S. Army's 689th Rapid Port Opening Element deployed to MidAmerica St. Louis Airport on Aug. 5, to set up a logistics hub as part of exercise Gateway Relief, an earthquake-response scenario directed by

  • Hagel announces reduction in civilian furlough days

    Hundreds of thousands of Defense Department civilian employees who have had to take a weekly unpaid day off from work since July 8 are getting some relief, as the total number of furlough days has been reduced from 11 to six, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel announced today.

  • Top AF leaders visit Spangdahlem Airmen

    Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark A. Welsh III, Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James Cody and their spouses visited Spangdahlem Air Base to meet with Airmen and their families Aug. 1.During their visit to the 52nd Fighter Wing, Welsh and Cody received a mission brief, participated in an open

  • Gorenc assumes command of USAFE, AFAFRICA, Allied Air Command

    Three consecutive generations of U.S. Air Forces in Europe commanders and the U.S. Africa Command deputy commander took to the stage as Gen. Frank Gorenc assumed command of USAFE, U.S. Air Forces Africa and Allied Air Command during a ceremony here Aug. 2.Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark A. Welsh

  • Healing deployed wounded warriors

    The 379th Expeditionary Medical Group's Intra-Theater Care Program here was established in 2008 to ensure no service member is sent home from the U.S. Central Command's area of responsibility before having a chance to get back in the fight.

  • Department of Energy recognizes Air Force energy program

    It's the Oscars of the energy world and the Air Force has stolen the show again.Innovative ideas and procedures for saving facility energy and aviation fuel have earned the Air Force five Federal Energy Management Program awards in 2013, bringing the total to 21 winners in the last four years. A

  • Help is a good thing: colonel, sexual assault survivor recounts experience

    The first in a video series of survivor stories, an Air Force colonel shared her graphic, first-hand experience with sexual assault in 1988. After years of silence about the incident, Col. Pamela Lincoln voluntarily shared her experience with the hope that it might empower other survivors to come