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U.S. Air Force News

  • Air Force awards first ESPC of 2018

    Recently, the Defense Logistics Agency awarded a $42 million energy savings performance contract,or ESPC, to be executed and maintained by Energy Systems Group, at Hill Air Force Base, Utah. This represents the Air Force’s first such awarded contract of 2018.

  • 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.

  • Air Force awards LRS-B contract

    The Air Force announced today the contract award of Engineering and Manufacturing Development (EMD) and early production for the Long Range Strike Bomber to Northrop Grumman Corporation.

  • Air Force awards massive energy-saving project at Tinker

    Air Force leaders awarded an Energy Savings Performance Contract here Aug. 1.Tinker Air Force Base is Oklahoma's largest single-site employer and the largest Air Force facility energy consumer. "Upon completion, the project will reduce Tinker's energy intensity by 30 percent and save an estimated

  • Air Force awards three Launch Service Agreements

    The U.S. Air Force announced today the award of three Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV) Launch Service Agreements to (in alphabetical order) Blue Origin, Northrop Grumman Innovation Systems, and United Launch Alliance.

  • Air Force B-1B damaged

    An Air Force B-1B Lancer was heavily damaged during a landing at a forward operating location May 8. The aircraft, with its crew of four, slid 7,500 feet before coming to rest on the runway with its landing gear in the retracted position. All four crewmembers exited the aircraft safely. The B-1B is

  • Air Force B-2 Spirit Stealth Bombers arrive in UK

    Two B-2 Spirit stealth bombers joined B-1B Lancers and B-52H Stratofortresses June 9, 2017, to participate in theater bomber assurance and deterrence operations.Three B-52Hs from Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana, and three B-1Bs from Ellsworth AFB, South Dakota, along with approximately 800

  • Air Force band builds relations in Peru

    An Air Force regional band is on tour here sharing the Air Force story through music and entertainment while supporting Airmen participating in a joint military exercise and air show this weekend. The Air National Guard Band of the Southwest, located at Port Hueneme Naval Station, Calif., is

  • Air Force Band connects with Philippines' audiences

    The U.S. Air Force Band of the Pacific performed for approximately 11,000 visitors during the Philippines International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta Feb. 9-12 at Clark Field here. The four-day event is in its 17th year and is part of a U.S. Pacific Command initiative designed to demonstrate the U.S.'s

  • Air Force band is expeditionary instrument of peace

    There was no waiting for the world to change one recent spring day in Afghanistan when Air Force Band members took matters into their own hands and united with a group of local elementary school students for an afternoon of friendship and music. Singing pop songs by artists such as John Mayer, who

  • Air Force band kicks off tour in Djibouti

    The nine-piece U.S. Central Command Air Forces Band Live Round kicked off their tour in Africa with a one-hour show for American servicemembers and local law enforcers Jan. 22 at Djibouti's national police academy. The ensemble performed before about 100 members of the nation's police force and

  • Air Force band member performs at World Series

    A vocalist with the Air National Guard Band of the Central States performed in front of more than 46,000 people Oct. 19 at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, Mo.Staff Sgt. Brian Owens sang "God Bless America" during the seventh-inning stretch of the World Series between the Texas Rangers and St. Louis

  • Air Force band members become 'warehouse warriors'

    Six Air Force band members traded their musical instruments for power tools recently as they competed in an episode of "Warehouse Warriors."Warehouse Warriors is a DIY (Do It Yourself) network television show that pits two teams against one another in a race against the clock to see who can complete

  • Air Force band musical goes Hollywood

    The U.S. Air Force Band from Bolling Air Force Base, D.C., performed its musical “Born of a Dream” before full houses Nov. 18 to 20 at the Kodak Theatre here.All of the 2,500 free seats were reserved before the start of the first performance. The band’s final performance Nov. 20 was a private show

  • Air Force Band performs at Air Force Memorial opening

    The Air Force Band's newest group performed at the Air Force Memorial's open house event here in a Pentagon parking lot. Max Impact, which performs contemporary music from today's hip-hop, pop and urban sounds, entertained the crowd with hits from artists such as U2, Natasha Bedingfield, Usher and

  • Air Force band performs at Clinton library opening

    Rain, and a lot of it, could not dampen the spirits of Airmen assigned here to help make the William J. Clinton Presidential Library opening ceremonies Nov. 18 a success.Active-duty Airmen from the Air Force Band of Mid-America assigned to Scott Air Force Base, Ill., kicked off the official grand

  • Air Force Band performs at Disneyland

    Visitors to the world-famous Disneyland Resort are excited to see characters like Mickey Mouse, Goofy and Donald Duck, but on Nov. 17 these same people were also able to see and hear a concert by the Air Force Band of the Golden West. Based out of Travis Air Force Base, Calif., the band performed a

  • Air Force band performs in Hiroshima

    Aiko Hayashi smiled, cheered and laughed as she listened to a U.S. Air Force band perform here April 14.“They’re very good,” she said. “They really play great music. I’m glad they came here.”Almost 60 years ago, the thought of a U.S. military presence here was unthinkable. Ms. Hayashi knows of

  • Air Force band plays final tribute for President Ford

    The U.S. Air Force Band of Flight accompanied by the Air Force Band of Liberty performed in the cold rain Jan. 3 to honor Gerald R. Ford, the 38th U.S. president.Conducting musical performances for state funerals is the Air Force Band of Flight's No. 1 mission, and with the passing of President Ford

  • Air Force Band prepares for inauguration day

    Members of the Air Force Band prepared for the presidential inauguration parade in a hangar and through the winter rain Jan. 7 at Andrews Air Force Base.The 99-member Air Force Band will join the other military service bands to march from the U.S. Capitol to the White House during President-elect

  • Air Force Band ready for inauguration

    After a 22-year Air Force music career, Col. Dennis Layendecker will march in the biggest parade of his life Jan. 20 when he leads the 99-piece Air Force Band down Pennsylvania Avenue during the president's inauguration parade.As the band rehearsed here Jan. 13 for the big event, Colonel

  • Air Force Band streaming music on line

    Chief Master Sgt. David Nokes worked 15 months to take an idea and, with the help of the U.S. Army, turned it into a viable product. The result is Air Force Bandstand, a 24-hour per day Internet streaming radio service that broadcasts music by the Air Force Band and also includes news from the Air

  • Air Force Band, Honor Guard prepare for Inauguration Day

    Preparation is nothing new to the U.S. Air Force Band and Honor Guard as they get ready for Jan. 21's 57th presidential inauguration, bringing a total Air Force presence to the massive event.After a dress rehearsal here today, Col. Larry Lang, commander and conductor of the U.S. Air Force Band,

  • Air Force Band, Honor Guard, Drill Team represent Airmen for Independence Day

    The U.S. Air Force Band and U.S. Air Force Honor Guard celebrated the Independence Day holiday weekend in New York, Pennsylvania and the nation's capital. "Each mission was special in and of itself," said Col. A. Phillip Waite, commander and conductor of The U.S. Air Force Band. "Collectively these

  • Air Force bands 'in the fight'

    Air Force bands like Air Force Materiel Command's Band of Flight located here perform thousands of concerts each year, with several performances in far away countries as part of a "hearts and minds" campaign being led by military bands. Since 2004, Air Force bands have been deploying to U.S. Central

  • Air Force bands provide more than music

    Airmen deployed to combat zones today perform a variety of missions, ranging from precision bombing to explosive ordnance disposal, to working with local community leaders as members of provincial reconstruction teams and even training Iraqi and Afghan soldiers and airmen. Air Force bandsmen, too,

  • Air Force base near Tampa ready for Hurricane Charley

    Several Air Force bases in the path of Hurricane Charley are preparing for whatever the storm may throw at them.People and aircraft at MacDill Air Force Base, Fla., began evacuating Aug. 12. Nearly 1,500 residents of base housing moved to safe havens while aircraft were flown to bases out of the

  • Air Force base of preference initiative evolves to permanent program

    The Base of Preference enhanced assignment initiative begins Jan. 9, 2019, and provides enlisted Airmen who have 48 months’ time on station as of May 2019 the opportunity to apply for available Permanent Change of Station assignments in the continental United States, or CONUS, through an immediate,

  • Air Force baseball loses to Utah, 13-6

    Utah banged out a season-high 20 hits and three home runs to down Air Force, 13-6, in a Mountain West Conference baseball game here April 2. The Falcons fall to 5-25 overall and 0-7 in the conference. Utah improves to 5-16, 2-5.Utah starter Jason Price improved to 2-4 on the year, striking out 11

  • Air Force baseball swept by New Mexico during weekend play

    New Mexico hit a Mountain West Conference record eight home runs to complete a weekend sweep over the Air Force Academy team with an 18-6 win April 18. The two teams combined for 10 home runs on the day with wind gusts reaching up to 45 mph and blowing straight out to right-center field.The Lobos

  • Air Force baseball swept by UNLV with 22-12 loss

    University of Nevada-Las Vegas broke open a 12-12 baseball game by scoring eight runs in the eighth inning to complete a weekend sweep of the Air Force Academy with a 22-12 win here May 2. The Rebels tied a Mountain West Conference record -- set two weekends ago by New Mexico vs. Air Force -- by

  • Air Force baseball to play six fall games

    The Air Force baseball team will play six games against three junior colleges this fall, said Falcon head coach Mike Hutcheon.The Falcons will play doubleheaders against Western Nebraska Community College, Lamar Community College and Trinidad State Junior College.The Western Nebraska twin bill takes

  • Air Force basketball athlete defines resiliency

    When the combat rescue helicopter Pedro 66 was brought down by enemy fire June 9, 2010, in Afghanistan, retired Master Sgt. Christopher Aguilera thought his life was over, literally.

  • Air Force BDU officially history

    There are two things you should not see Nov. 1 -- Halloween costumes and the Air Force Battle Dress Uniform.In 2006, the Airman Battle Uniform became authorized for wear and a date was set for final phase-out of the woodland camouflage-patterned BDU's.Previously announced to be effective Oct. 1 of

  • Air Force BEAR Base deploys supporting JTF-Katrina

    Airmen with the 49th Materiel Maintenance Group here began deploying in support of Joint Task Force-Katrina, the massive relief effort directed at providing humanitarian aid to Gulf Coast victims of Hurricane Katrina.The 49th MMG, the only Basic Expeditionary Airfield Resources Base group in the Air

  • Air Force beats Army, wins softball championship

    The 2004 Armed Forces Men’s Softball Championship ended here Sept. 11 with the Air Force defeating the Army, 16-3, to win the gold.On Day 3 of the tournament, the Army had its second loss of the tournament to the Navy, but still could have taken it all since the championship game is a head-to-head

  • Air Force begins environmental cleanup of Guam dumpsite

    The Air Force Center for Environmental Excellence at Brooks City-Base, Texas, is managing the project to clean up a 62-year-old dumpsite near Andersen Air Force Base, Guam. AFCEE contractor Shaw Environmental and Infrastructure, Inc., has begun the two-year-long job of removing waste from the Urunao

  • Air Force begins full-scale assault assessment

    Allegations of sexual misconduct at the Air Force Academy and Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas, have prompted the Air Staff to direct an Air Force-wide review of its policies, procedures and victim programs.Officials at each Air Force major command have formed sexual-assault integrated-process teams

  • Air Force begins Raptor operational tests

    Operational testing on the F/A-22 Raptor began April 29 when the first two-ship sortie was flown and tested by members of the F/A-22 Combined Test Force here.After the operational testing is complete, a report will provide senior leaders with the information needed to approve the Raptor for

  • Air Force begins re-deploying some forces

    The Air Force has started re-deploying some its assets supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom, according to defense officials.The return of B-2 Spirit, F-117 Nighthawk and some F-15 Eagle aircraft has already begun, the officials said. It is all part of a process to re-deploy forces no longer required

  • Air Force begins smallpox vaccines

    The Air Force chief of staff has directed the immediate implementation of the smallpox vaccination program.In a Jan. 6 policy memorandum to major command commanders, Gen. John P. Jumper outlined details of the commanders' force protection program against the deadly biological warfare agent.The first

  • Air Force begins testing civilian self-service system

    The Air Force will begin testing My Biz, a new self-service system for Air Force civilians to view their personnel information Feb. 3. The Web-based self-service application will allow employees round-the-clock access to their personnel information from .mil domains. In My Biz, civilians can

  • Air Force begins testing newest AEHF satellite

    Following a four-month journey, the second Advanced Extremely High Frequency satellite reached geosynchronous orbit Aug. 27. The event is significant to the 4th Space Operations Squadron here because nearly 100 squadron members are now heavily involved in testing the vehicle.The Space and Missile

  • Air Force begins work on Tyndall AFB rebuild with PMO

    Following Hurricane Michael, the Air Force Installation and Mission Support Center and its partners established a program management office at Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida, to lead redevelopment and reconstruction efforts.

  • Air Force bids farewell to a legend

    The Air Force's last Vietnam-era former prisoner of war still serving retired here June 30, ending more than four decades of active-duty, Guard and Reserve Service.Reserve Maj. Gen. Ed Mechenbier, mobilization assistant to Gen. Gregory S. Martin who is commander of Air Force Materiel Command, hung

  • Air Force bids farewell to Chief McKinley, hails Chief Roy

    After more than 30 years of service, the Air Force's top enlisted leader bade farewell to fellow Airmen in a June 30 ceremony here as a new Airman became the 16th chief master sergeant of the Air Force. Along the manicured ceremonial lawn, hundreds of spectators cheered the service of Chief Master

  • Air Force bids farewell to Welsh

    Stealing a moment of silence, looking into the eyes of his wife, he takes a deep breath and prepares for what’s to come. Standing tall and proud, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark A. Welsh III walks into a hangar in front of hundreds of onlookers, all there to bid him farewell.

  • Air Force bids farewell to World War II hero

    The Air Force family bid farewell to a World War II hero July 20.Retired Maj. Gen. Charles W. Sweeney, the man who flew the historic B-29 Superfortress flight that dropped the second atomic bomb on Japan during World War II, died July 16 in Boston. He was 84. “He was the best patriot, best father

  • Air Force big hit at big show

    Capt. Brett Clutter was not exactly sure what to expect as he traveled here in his B-52 Stratofortress from Barksdale Air Force Base, La., to participate in the Royal International Air Tattoo. But as the big event got under way, it seemed like it was for him that the thousands of spectators were

  • Air Force birthday just another day on the job

    Senior Airman Delbert Coburn Jr. will be up to his neck in wiring instead of celebrating the Air Force's 59th birthday with the usual cake, ice cream and punch. Just like for the past 15 years, he and other Airmen around the world will report to work to fight or support the ongoing war on terrorism.

  • Air Force blanks American International 4-0

    Cadet Peter Foster posted his second career shutout, and the Air Force Academy peppered American International College with 52 shots as the Falcons beat the Yellow Jackets, 4-0, in the consolation hockey game of the ninth annual Quinnipiac Cup here Oct. 16.Air Force improved to 1-0-1 overall this

  • Air Force blue goes green on energy, environment

    Air Force blue wants to leave a greener footprint with more environmentally-sound energy resources, said the service's senior energy executive during testimony to the House of Representative's Armed Services Committee and Readiness Subcommittee Feb. 29 on Capitol Hill. "The Air Force recognizes that

  • Air Force blue shines at baseball opener

    For one Airman, opening day for the 2004 Major League Baseball season was “pretty incredible,” especially in St. Louis, where fans are passionate about their professional sports teams.For Staff Sgt. Kelly Grant-Ramstack, a vocalist with the U.S. Air Force Band of Mid-America, her incredible day

  • Air Force BMT adjusts schedules, locations to sustain mission readiness

    In order to ensure the health and safety of trainees and instructors and to preserve dorm capacity, new recruits will be brought in based on a four-week repeating cycle that includes stringent restricted movement guidelines, dedicated time for deep cleaning between rotations, resetting the

  • Air Force BMT introduces innovative Capstone Week

    Air Force basic military training at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph-Lackland will soon restructure its current eight-and-a-half-week course to make room for a new five-day program called Capstone Week, beginning Jan. 27 with trainees entering BMT.

  • Air Force board game debuts Dec. 1

    A new game is scheduled to hit the shelves of base exchanges Dec. 1 when the Army and Air Force Exchange Service introduces Air Force Edition Monopoly.“This is a one-of-a-kind board game dedicated to the men and women of the United States Air Force,” said Chris Burton, of the exchange

  • Air Force bowlers capture Armed Forces Bowling Championship titles

    Crowder, formerly of the Air Force Office of Special Investigations Judge Advocate General office, now assigned to Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama, and McTaggart, of Creech AFB, Nevada, agreed the mixed doubles competition allows for a change of pace from the days of grueling competition, and is a

  • Air Force bowling team competes in Armed Forces tourney

    The Air Force bowling team took home top honors during the 2010 Armed Forces Bowling Championships held at Naval Base San Diego, Calif., Dec. 6 through 10. The tournament consisted of four teams of eight bowlers from each military service. The teams competed for titles in team challenge, doubles,

  • Air Force bowls over competition

    The Air Force swept the individual and team efforts in the Armed Forces Bowling Championships at the National Bowling Stadium here Jan. 11. Kristen Elmore of Geilenkirchen Air Base, Germany, and Martin Bedford of Hill Air Force Base, Utah, won the women's and men's divisions, respectively. Elmore

  • Air Force boxer one of best in U.S.

    Senior Airman Adam Hassan, 375th Communications Squadron, fought through two weeks of try-outs and three months of intense training to be announced the best boxer in the Air Force and one of the top 10 boxers in the U.S.He had to compete against everyone who submitted a package to even get into the

  • Air Force boxer takes national crown

    The Air Force has its first national boxing champion since Jerome Bennett in 1977.James Johnson, stationed at Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, took home the title in the 165-pound weight class at the 2004 Everlast U.S. Championships in Colorado Springs, Colo., recently.Johnson won four fights on his way

  • Air Force boxers qualify for Olympic trials

    Three Air Force boxers have qualified for the U.S. Olympic Boxing Trials during the 2003 Armed Forces Boxing Championship held at Camp Lejeune, N.C., from Dec. 7 to 12. -- Airman 1st Class Hector Ramos from Travis Air Force Base, Calif., won the 132-pound lightweight class. -- Airman James Johnson

  • Air Force boxers take 3 medals at Armed Forces Championships

    No more motivation is needed for Air Force boxing heavyweight Kent Brinson when it comes to preparing for the upcoming 2012 USA National Boxing Championships Feb. 27 through March 3 in his backyard of Fort Carson, Colo.Brinson, a senior airman stationed at Fort Carson, won the gold medal in his

  • Air Force boxing back on base

    The Air Force School of Boxing is back in session at the boxing gym here.As of Jan. 8, Air Force boxing coach Steven Franco has been leading his pupils through his brand of "boxing 101."For camp veterans, such as All-Air Force light heavyweight Larry Hampp, two-time Air Force boxer Gary Griffin and

  • Air Force box-offs showcase lean, mean card

    The 2005 U.S. Air Force Boxing Championship, known as the box-offs, was on the ropes before the first punch was thrown here Jan. 22.Global operations reduced this year’s boxing trial camp to just 10 available fighters, down two-thirds from 2004. Seven bouts were on the card, which was unofficially

  • Air Force BRAC program nears transfer milestones

    Between now and the end of 2022, if all goes according to plan, the Air Force will transfer these parcels of land to local communities and close the chapter on the storied histories of Galena Forward Operating Location, Alaska, and Chanute Air Force Base, Illinois.

  • Air Force BRAC program reaches innovation milestone

    AFCEC’s Base and Realignment Closure team developed and transferred geospatial data for 39 BRAC installations onto the Air Force GeoBase program and was the first organization to complete the Air Force wide task.

  • Air Force 'brat' a smooth operator

     (This feature is part of the "Through Airmen's Eyes" series on AF.mil. These stories and commentaries focus on a single Airman, highlighting their Air Force story.)There are two things Senior Airman Joshua Chrisman loves: the KC-10 Extender and chicken nuggets.When the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing

  • Air Force brings 17 Catholic priests into service in fiscal 2007

    Air Force chaplain recruiters brought in 11 active-duty and six Reserve Catholic priests in fiscal 2007. Catholic chaplains were identified as an Air Force critical denominational need in 2005, and a "One Force Recruiting Model" was developed to more actively recruit both active-duty and Reserve

  • Air Force brings aid, experts to Morocco

    In the early hours of Feb. 24, a 6.4-magnitude earthquake struck the Al Hoceima Province in northern Morocco. Within the next few hours, two smaller aftershocks measuring 4.3 and 4.1 shook the remote region. Initial reports indicated more than 570 people were killed and 405 injured. On Feb. 28,

  • Air Force brings defense planning into 21st century through modern software

    For much of the defense community, the ease and functionality of modern technology is not translated to military planning systems. While cumbersome acquisitions processes, funding issues and security concerns are often valid causes, many Department of Defense processes (and any software associated

  • Air Force brings DFAS airmen back on base

    To improve its total-force personnel posture, the Air Force will move nearly 400 airmen assigned to the Defense Finance and Accounting Service back to base-level comptroller squadrons.Airmen working in Department of Defense billets like DFAS support the overall military mission, but do not directly