NATO Air Policing operations

U.S. Air Force News

  • Vandenberg sets pace in base security

    Vandenberg has set the pace for Air Force installation security by implementing a new method of checking identification cards at base access points. A new security scanner now in use here does much more than just check military ID cards. It has the ability to check a wide variety of ID cards,

  • Vandenberg successfully launches Delta II

    Vandenberg AFB officials successfully launched a Delta II rocket carrying a National Reconnaissance Office payload from Space Launch Complex-2 at 1 p.m. Dec. 14 here. The Delta II, a 125.75-foot expendable launch, medium-lift vehicle, launches civil and commercial payloads into low-earth, polar,

  • Vandenberg supports successful missile defense experiment

    Vandenberg space technicians successfully launched a space launch vehicle, the Chimera, Aug. 23 from North Vandenberg.  The Chimera is a modified Minuteman II booster vehicle with a simplified target payload. The launch was part of an exercise involving the tracking of a long-range target missile by

  • Vandenberg team launches Minuteman III

    An unarmed Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile was launched from North Vandenberg Feb. 7 at 12:14 a.m. "This program is key to our constant assessment of the reliability of our ICBM fleet," said Brig. Gen. C. Donald Alston, director of Air Force Space Command's Air, Space and

  • Vandenberg tests Minuteman III ICBM

    An unarmed Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile successfully launched from here Sept. 7 and landed in the Marshall Islands about 30 minutes later.The mission, conducted by people with the 30th Space Wing and the 576th Flight Test Squadron here and the 91st SW from Minot AFB, N.D, tested

  • Vanguard Award nominations due March 1

    The deadline for submitting nominations for the 2011 Noncommissioned Officers Association Vanguard Award to Air Force Personnel Center officials is March 1.Nominees must be between the rank of senior airman and chief master sergeant who have performed a heroic act, on or off duty, which resulted in

  • Vanguard nominees sought

    Air Force officials are seeking nominees for the 2013 Noncommissioned Officers Association Award.The award annually recognizes one enlisted member from each of the uniformed services for acts of heroism that result in saving someone's life or preventing serious injury. The act must have occurred

  • VA's caregiver support program expanding

    Department of Veterans Affairs officials are expanding support nationally to caregivers of veterans with Alzheimer's disease.A pilot program of the Resources for Enhancing Alzheimer's Caregiver Health in VA program, or REACH VA, showed great success in reducing stress on caregivers while improving

  • VA's homeless intervention program nears roll out

    A Department of Veterans Affairs homeless-prevention program, which seeks to help veterans and families who are on the verge of becoming homeless, has moved closer to implementation. The program marks the first time that VA officials will fund services for the spouses and children of veterans at

  • Vasilievskoe villagers take pride in newly renovated school

    Following the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1990, the Vasilievskoe Kindergarten School sat empty for more than a decade. Since it reopened in 2003, the school house has been in need of extensive repairs. The Transit Center at Manas and the U.S. Embassy in Bishkek partnered with the Kyrgyz Republic

  • Vautrinot discusses the importance of cyber operations

    The 24th Air Force commander spoke on April 16 at the Annual Cyber 1.2 event at the National Space Symposium in Colorado Springs, Colo. Maj. Gen. Suzanne Vautrinot, who is also the commander of the Air Force's Cyber Air Component to USCYBERCOM Network Operations, is responsible for the Air Force's

  • VCSAF discusses benefits, uniforms, F-35 while at Luke

    The Air Force's vice chief of staff addressed a packed house during an Airmen's Call here March 2.Gen. Phil Breedlove, who visited Luke AFB for two days, covered a variety of issues during the all-call, to include military benefits, the F-35 Lightning II, and uniform policy.Breedlove began by

  • VCSAF highlights speed, innovation as keys to victory in future war

    Vice Chief of Staff of the Air Force Gen. Stephen Wilson emphasized Airmen will continue leading the way in preparing for the future of war and highlighted the importance of speed, connectivity and innovation during the 2018 Future of War Conference April 9, 2018, in Washington, D.C.

  • VCSAF meets with accelerators of change in Boston

    Air Force Vice Chief of Staff Gen. David Allvin arrived at Logan International Airport on Monday and stepped off the aircraft with an extra sense of urgency. His flight wasn’t late, nor was he running behind schedule for his meeting in downtown Boston. Allvin’s deliberate stride was appropriate to

  • VCSAF meets with nuclear scientists, engineers about future operations

    The visit gave the leaders an opportunity to discuss future operations and algorithmic warfare – the method by which battles are fought using artificial intelligence and machine learning as a weapon system – with members of the Defense Department’s sole nuclear treaty monitoring center and the

  • VCSAF shares words of wisdom with AFDW leaders

    A small group of Air Force officers had the opportunity to hear words of wisdom directly from one of the Air Force's top senior leaders during a special visit here April 26. Air Force Vice Chief of Staff Gen. Phil Breedlove spoke at the Air Force District of Washington's Commander's Course to a

  • VCSAF tours AFRL’s 711th Human Performance Wing

    Vice Chief of Staff of the Air Force Gen. David W. Allvin visited several Air Force Research Laboratory facilities April 26 to see how the 711th Human Performance Wing is leveraging data and collaboration to enable, enhance, sustain, and restore Airmen and Guardians throughout their career

  • VCSAF tours Goodfellow AFB

    VCSAF Gen. Jim Slife visited Goodfellow AFB to see how technical training has transformed and evolved and to learn more about how Goodfellow’s mission supports the Great Power Competition initiative.

  • VCSAF visits Minot AFB

    During the visit, Allvin met with 5th Bomb Wing and 91st Missile Wing leaders to gather insight into the only U.S. Air Force base holding two-thirds of the nuclear triad.

  • VCSAF visits Nigerien Air Base 201

    Vice Chief of Staff of the Air Force Gen. Stephen W. Wilson met with Airmen from Nigerien Air Base 201 in Agadez, Niger, Sept. 23. The stop was one of eight bases included in the vice chief's tour focused on the initiatives of Airmen in deployed locations.

  • VCSAF visits the SHOC-N Battlelab

    Howard Hughes Operations is part of the 805th Combat Training Squadron’s Shadow Operations Center-Nellis, or ShOC-N. ShOC-N is the Air Force’s primary Advanced Battle Management System Battlelab for experimentation and incubation of new command and control technologies and development of C2 tactics,

  • VCSAF Wilson ends longest tenure in AF history

    Air Force Vice Chief of Staff Gen. Stephen “Seve” Wilson retired Nov. 13 in a ceremony at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling in Washington, D.C., ending the longest tenure in the position.

  • VCSAF, spouse take in Ramstein mission sets

    The Air Force's vice chief of staff and his spouse visited Ramstein Air Base on April 18 to meet with Airmen and familiarize themselves with the mission sets of Ramstein’s three different wings.

  • VCSAF: America is an air and space nation

    The Air Force vice chief of staff discussed many topics concerning the current and future state of America's airpower at the Air Force Association's Global Warfare Symposium Nov. 18 in Los Angeles. Airpower has made the United States a global power, Gen. Phil Breedlove told an audience of

  • VCSAF: Balanced force structure imperative to Air Force readiness

    Air Force Vice Chief of Staff Gen. Phil Breedlove and his counterparts from the Army, Navy and Marine Corps testified May 10 before members of the Senate Subcommittee on Readiness and Management Support about U.S. military readiness in light of recent budget cuts.In his opening statement, Breedlove

  • VCSAF: Potential yearlong CR forces $1.3B cuts

    Air Force Vice Chief of Staff Gen. Stephen Wilson discussed readiness, force structure and modernization of the Air Force at the McAleese/Credit Suisse “Defense Programs” Conference in Washington, D.C., March 22, 2017.

  • Vector focuses on political activities

    In his second Chief of Staff of the Air Force Vector, the service's top general  addressed the balance between the Department of Defense and the political process. "As the November elections approach, I encourage all Air Force personnel -- active duty, National Guard, Reserve and civilian employees

  • Vehicle crashes drive off-duty summer fatalities

    Four servicemembers died in off-duty accidents Labor Day weekend, bringing to 95 the number killed during the summer season that kicked off Memorial Day weekend, safety officials reported. Two Soldiers, a Sailor and an Airman died in vehicle accidents during the Labor Day weekend, which marked the

  • Vehicle maintainers keep Balad moving

    People here rely on hundreds of vehicles every day to accomplish the mission, and the Airmen of the 332nd Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron’s vehicle maintenance section are responsible for keeping those vehicles on the road.“We have more than 800 vehicles in our fleet,” said Chief Master

  • Vehicle maintainers keep operations rolling

    The flightline here is a hive of activity as vehicles swarm about accomplishing various tasks: a jammer carries bombs here, a loader removes cargo from a C-17 Globemaster III over there.Should one of those vehicles break, it could have catastrophic consequences for the mission, so ensuring that does

  • Vehicle maintainers roll into digital age

    Although many of the  technological innovations the U.S. military makes are large scale, staying up to speed can also require small, yet significant, changes at every level, which streamline processes for the workforce.The 8th Logistics Readiness Squadron vehicle management flight at Kunsan Air

  • Vehicle maintainers travel rough road

    Vehicle maintenance conducted in the most equipped garages can still present its fair share of challenges. For vehicle maintainers assigned to the Paktya Provincial Reconstruction Team here, garages, a well-stocked supply warehouse and proper tools are a remote luxury not often afforded here.

  • Vehicle maintenance Airmen use AFSO 21 initiatives

    Airmen in the 100th Logistics Readiness Squadron's vehicle maintenance shop are improving safety in their workcenter using Air Force Smart Operations for the 21st Century.Mechanics in this unit work on B-2 and B-4 aircraft towing vehicles every three to four years. When that time comes around, it

  • Vehicle maintenance keeps Balad on the move

    With a turn of a screwdriver or a crank of a wrench, a 60-K loader can quickly resume loading cargo onto an aircraft because of the vehicle maintenance flight's efforts here. The 332nd Expeditionary Logistics Support Squadron's vehicle maintainers are responsible for the base's Air Force vehicle

  • Vehicle management flight keeps Barksdale moving

    The responsibility for all government vehicles here falls to the 2nd Logistics Readiness Squadron’s vehicle management flight. That accountability includes buying 25 vehicles a year and managing 894 vehicles, with an annual repair budget of $1.6 million. Master Sgt. Michael Boyles, vehicle

  • Vehicle Management welds fuel tanks back to life

    Without fuel, the world’s greatest Air Force doesn’t get aircraft in the air. When the trucks that deliver that fuel start to leak, a multi-team effort is needed to get them fixed and back to delivering fuel to the fight.

  • Vehicle managers keep things rolling at Manas

    The supply tent in the vehicle management section of maintenance town here is a good illustration of just how busy the flight is right now. Packed from floor to ceiling and wall to wall with spare parts, it doesn’t hold everything needed to keep the base’s fleet of nearly 300 vehicles running.

  • Vehicle mechanics strive to maintain perfect record

    Athens, Greece, is not the only place where records are being set. At this base, located north of Afghanistan, a team of five mechanics are making history in their own little corner of the world.Vehicle mechanics from the 416th Air Expeditionary Group’s logistics readiness flight replaced a

  • Vehicle operations named 'Team of the Year'

    Five enlisted vehicle operations Airmen were selected to represent the career field which the Air Force Association has named 2005 Team of the Year.Airmen selected to represent the vehicle operations career field are Master Sgt. Dennis Ross, from Bolling Air Force Base, D.C.; Tech. Sgt. Jason

  • Vehicle operators named 'team of the year'

    The Army has traditionally provided protection for supply and munitions convoys in Iraq and Afghanistan, but when manning shortages made it tough for Soldiers to fulfill that role, the Air Force provided help. As many as 25 percent of Airmen in the vehicle operations career field were specially

  • Vehicle operators remember fallen Airmen

    “Your life was brief … Your legacy endures,” are the words chosen by Airmen of the 506th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron’s vehicle operations flight to inscribe on a memorial for Airman 1st Class Carl Anderson Jr. and Staff Sgt. Dustin Peters. The Airmen died in Iraq while supporting

  • Vehicle operators return home after teaming with Army

    Seven vehicle operators with the 92nd Logistics Readiness Squadron returned to work Feb. 21 after driving the war-ravaged roads of Iraq for nearly six months. “We were the last medium to light (Air Force-operated) gun trucks solely responsible for providing security to convoys,” Staff Sgt. Scott

  • Vehicle readiness squadron jumps onboard with AFSO 21

    Airmen everywhere are coming up with new ideas to improve their work areas as part of the Air Force Smart Operations for the 21st Century program. The Airmen with the 435th Logistics Readiness Squadron here are no different. When Senior Airman Yan Voskanov first came to the squadron, he noticed

  • Vehicle registration streamlines customer service

    Airmen who work in the vehicle registration office here realized not all of their customers were happy all the time. There were a variety of concerning factors, but the main area of dissatisfaction was waiting times. "In the summertime I believe our max wait was three hours and 45 minutes long. And

  • Vehicle remodeled for mortuary

    Airmen from the 436th Equipment Maintenance Squadron’s fabrication flight here finished remodeling a mortuary transfer vehicle Jan. 16, raising its capacity from two transfer cases to six.When servicemembers die on foreign soil their remains are transported to the Charles C. Carson Center for

  • Vehicle revs up to shatter land speed record

    It looks like a plane, sounds like a plane and even goes as fast as a plane, but it never leaves the ground. What is it? It's the North American Eagle, a land vehicle attempting to bring the world land speed record back to the United States. In preparation for this feat, the NAE team tested their

  • Vehicle searches provide first line of defense

    During the early morning hours in Southwest Asia, the vehicle search team of the 380th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron doesn’t get out of bed.They’re already at work. They’re up and about in the vehicle search area, or VSA, ensuring vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices and other

  • 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

  • Vendor payments go electronic

    The Air Force will be one step closer to its goal of seamless electronic commerce with the implementation of Wide Area Workflow, finance officials said.The program, a Department of Defense-developed initiative, simplifies the way military services pay vendors and contractors by eliminating the

  • Vendors attend Industry Day for Manas Transit Center

    To learn how to do business with the Transit Center at Manas, Kyrgyzstan, 244 vendors attended Industry Day here April 22. The 376th Expeditionary Contracting Squadron holds Industry Day twice each year to inform businesspeople on the procedures required to qualify as a vendor with the center."We

  • VERA, VSIP round two application period ends Friday

    Applications for voluntary early retirement authority and/or voluntary separation incentive pay consideration must be submitted this week at bases that are still accepting applications, Air Force officials said.Early retirement and separation incentives are part of ongoing measures used to help

  • Verifying records, personal information vital to career

    Successful career progression for Airmen requires hard work, planning and dedication, but even more importantly, an accurate personnel record. Of all the actions Airmen can take to affect their chances for promotion and professional development, the most important is ensuring their personal

  • Vermont Airmen, Soldiers assist after historic flooding

    Floodwaters caused historic and catastrophic devastation throughout Vermont for two days beginning July 10. Montpelier was battered by a record-setting 5.28 inches of rainfall. Vermont National Guard was activated to assess the damage.

  • Vermont ANG F-35s join NATO’s enhanced air policing mission

    As part of NATO’s plan to bolster its collective defense posture, the Vermont ANG team will take over the mission for Hill Air Force Base’s 388th FW, which has been executing the coalition’s air policing mission since their arrival Feb. 16.

  • Vermont Guard hosts leadership, skills competition

    What do you do when more than 600 of your servicemembers are deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and you’re lonely at the Vermont Air National Guard?You invite 500 Vermont high school students to take over your base for a day and you challenge their technical skills in the 2006 SkillsUSA

  • Vertical shop keeps base in good condition

    Painting, cutting, welding and building. They do it all as long it doesn't have wheels or wings. "If it doesn't fly or have wheels, we fix it," said Tech. Sgt. Dan Bertok, 20th Civil Engineer Squadron’s vertical shop noncommissioned officer in charge. The vertical shop's goal is to keep the wing

  • Vertical wiper blades reduce aircraft drag, tests show

    Across the KC-135 fleet, blades are positioned horizontally on the windshield as part of the aircraft’s original 1950s design. However, as the understanding of aviation aerodynamics advanced, research indicated placing the wipers vertically when not in use could improve aerodynamic efficiency and

  • Very carefully

    Three airmen from the 386th Expeditionary Air Control Squadron carefully fold the American flag during the retreat ceremony at a forward-deployed location in the Arabian Gulf region. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Karen J. Tomasik)

  • vESD 2.0 rolls out Air Force wide

    A brand new version of the Virtual Enterprise Service Desk (version 2.0) is now available on unclassified computer desktops on the Air Force network.

  • Vet centers offer grief counseling to military families

    In an unprecedented expansion of its traditional client base, Department of Veterans Affairs officials are offering grief counseling to families of servicemembers who die while on active duty.VA’s readjustment counseling office offers the counseling services at its 206 community-based vet centers

  • Vet receives four-legged friend

    Retired Tech. Sgt. Matthew Slaydon, a former 56th Civil Engineer Squadron explosive ordnance disposal technician, was investigating an improvised explosive device in Kirkuk, Iraq, in October 2007, when it detonated nearly two feet from his face. As a result, Sergeant Slaydon lost his sight and his

  • Veteran helps others achieve American dream

    A bureaucratic mix-up. That's how Eugene Toni explained being drafted in the Army to his mother. If he had told her the truth, "she would have killed me," said the 58-year-old. In reality, there was no mix-up. Mr. Toni was attending Camden County College in New Jersey and working part-time at a

  • Veteran hiring increases

    Hiring of military veterans across the federal civilian work force increased in fiscal 2002, the government's director of personnel said recently.In fact, hiring of veterans in the federal work force was up more than 19 percent over the previous fiscal year, said Kay Coles James, U.S. Office of

  • Veteran recalls battle leading to Medal of Honor

    In 1968, a battle raged where heroes arose only to be unacknowledged for 18 years. Proper recognition occurred during a White House ceremony Sept. 21 when Chief Master Sgt. Richard Etchberger was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor after saving three of his men in a battle that failed to make

  • Veteran recalls historic World War II bombings

    The beginning of the end of fighting in the Pacific during World War II began 59 years ago with a thunderous roar.Some people thought there was another way to get Japan to the peace table. Others thought the drastic measures taken by the United States saved more lives despite the cost.Whatever the

  • Veteran wheelchair games begin July 4 in Denver

    More than 500 wheelchair athletes who are all military veterans are headed to Denver to begin competition at the 30th National Veterans Wheelchair Games. The event, presented each year by officials of the Department of Veterans Affairs and Paralyzed Veterans of America, runs July 4 through July

  • Veterans' advocates hold forum to discuss homeless vets

    More than 400 participants from across the country took part in a two-day national forum on ending homelessness among veterans.Committee members discussed strengthening preventative measures and improving collaboration among government and private-sector organizations."For twenty years, we have

  • Veterans Affairs officials tackle root causes of homelessness

    No one who has ever served the United States in uniform should ever end up living on the street, Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric K. Shinseki insisted. So he and VA officials are committed to ending homelessness among America's veterans within the next five years, and said he's already seeing signs

  • Veterans Affairs secretary announces new gravesite locator

    The secretary of Veterans Affairs announced Oct. 16 here that the Department of Veterans Affairs has made the gravesites of more than 6.7 million veterans easier to locate using handheld devices with Internet capability, such as "smart phones." "This innovative program continues VA's commitment to

  • Veterans Day an opportunity to share service at Air Force Memorial

    (Editor's Note: This story is part of "Through Airmen's Eyes." These stories and commentaries focus on a single Airman, highlighting their Air Force story.)Veterans Day is near and dear to my family since many family members have served this nation across several service branches. I've attended many

  • Veterans Day celebrated around the Air Force

    Base honor guard members fold the U.S. flag during the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing Veterans Day retreat ceremony, Nov. 11, 2009, at an air base in Southwest Asia. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Jason W. Edwards)

  • Veterans Day message from military leaders

    The military's top leaders released Veterans Day messages today thanking servicemembers for their dedicated service. In a video message, Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld reflects on the origins of Veteran's Day and the significant contributions veterans have made in past and current

  • Veterans Day particularly significant while nation at war

    Observing Veterans Day is especially important this year as America's military members put their lives in danger to protect the country and defend its freedoms, Veterans Affairs Secretary R. James Nicholson said. "We are a nation at war against an enemy that has openly vowed its desire to destroy

  • Veterans Day special: Veterans share war experiences

    The year was 1967. First Lt. Marko Milakovich stood on the side of Budda Mountain, about 10 miles from Quang Nhia in South Vietnam. The 25-year-old was on a site survey and had a weapons carrier and six Army bodyguards for safety. As he stood on the mountainside, leaflets fluttered to the ground

  • Veterans encouraged to submit claims for retroactive stop loss

    In working closely with the Office of the Secretary of Defense staff on a congressional action involving veterans submitting claims for Retroactive Stop Loss Special Pay, major command and wing level officials are working to inform veterans who were affected by stop loss. Eligible Airmen include

  • Veterans giving free phone cards to airmen

    Servicemembers who have served overseas in the past are once again giving assistance to those currently serving overseas.The Veterans of Foreign Wars Foundation, through the Air Force Aid Society, is providing phone cards and other items to overseas Air Force members and to their families at

  • Veterans honor Berlin Airlift's 60th anniversary

    American, British and French veterans have returned to Germany to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the Berlin Airlift. Dr. Helmut Trotnow, the curator of the Allied Museum in Berlin, attributed part of the dissolution of the Soviet blockade to the U.S. armed forces involved in the airlift. "This

  • Veterans honored

    WASHINGTON D.C. -- Military veterans from all branches of service gathered today at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery for a wreath laying ceremony, then moved to the ampitheater for a commemoration in honor of Veteran's Day. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Jim

  • Veterans in Blue Volume IV out now

    For decades, Airmen have answered the call to serve and protect the nation’s interests, people and cherished freedoms that underpin it all, risking their lives for others, and thus, becoming heroes in the eyes of those they protected.

  • Veterans in Blue Volume V out now

    For decades, Airmen have answered the call to serve and protect the nation’s interests, people and cherished freedoms that underpin it all, risking their lives for others, and thus, becoming heroes in the eyes of those they protected.

  • Veterans in Blue: honoring those who served

    The Air Force maintains a special portrait display in the Pentagon as part of its commitment to honoring the devotion and service of veterans. Volume VI will replace volume V of the Veterans in Blue project this November.