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  • Remembering Pearl Harbor: A ‘body blow’ to America

    When the first bombs exploded on a nearby airfield, marking the start of the Japanese sneak attack on the morning of Dec. 7, 1941, Edward Davis and others scrambled from a chow hall. The 94-year-old Army veteran said he and other Soldiers were having breakfast at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, when

  • Keeping the C-5 fleet in check

    The 436th Maintenance Squadron Isochronal Maintenance Dock helps keep the largest aircraft in the Air Force inventory, the C-5 Galaxy, in the air to deliver cargo, combat equipment and humanitarian relief supplies to anywhere in the world whenever called upon.

  • Allies in a new era

    Two captains stationed at Kadena Air Base, Japan, discovered that their military roots go deeper than they had anticipated. Both Airmen are descendants of sailors who fought in the Battle of Midway in World War II, although fighting on opposite sides.

  • Explosive threats no match for Osan EOD

    Whether a faulty 9 mm pistol round or a pipe bomb meant to cause harm, there is one shop that holds the responsibility of disarming and disposing of these dangerous objects. With their extensive and rigorous training, the Airmen from the 51st Civil Engineer Squadron explosive ordnance disposal

  • Air Force A3 Receives Award for Space

    The Air Force Association presented the General Thomas D. White Space Award to the Headquarters U.S. Air Force deputy chief of staff for operations for outstanding contribution to American aerospace progress on Nov. 20.

  • A widow’s story: Living by faith

    Just before sunset on Veterans Day, she sat next to her husband’s headstone at Arlington National Cemetery, reminding her three children how their father was with God in heaven and what it means to have faith. Faith has kept Heather Gray moving forward. It’s what has gotten her through the grief and

  • Moody deploys first HC-130Js

    The 71st Rescue Squadron deployed two HC-130J Combat King II aircraft for the first time Nov. 27. The HC-130Js, which deployed with more than 60 aircrew, support and maintenance personnel, bring a new set of capabilities to the airspace in support of Operation Inherent Resolve.

  • AF presents Fisher House award to TAPS

    Secretary of the Air Force Deborah Lee James presented the 2014 Zachary and Elizabeth Fisher Distinguished Civilian Humanitarian Award to the founder and president of the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors in a ceremony at the Pentagon Dec. 1.

  • No bunny business: Roundup relocates rabbits to safety

    In an ever-changing climate of adversity, Aviano Air Base personnel keep their eyes peeled for hazards that may harm the community and mission.Despite their vigilance, one hazard has breached the base's guarded walls -- bunnies.

  • AF releases Form 910, implements forced distribution

    The revised Air Force Form 910, Enlisted Performance Report (airman basic through technical sergeant); and interim change 3 to Air Force Instruction 36-2406, “Officer and Enlisted Evaluation Systems,” have been published on the Air Force e-Publishing website.

  • EOD techs conduct post-blast analysis training

    After an explosion, when the smoke settles and the blaze has been contained, a new mission begins. Like a puzzle, shrapnel blasted in every direction can be pieced together to uncover the mode of detonation. Explosive ordnance disposal Airmen assigned to the 1st Special Operations Civil Engineer

  • Atlas V booster lands at Vandenberg

    One of the world’s largest cargo aircraft recently delivered an Atlas V booster to Vandenberg Air Force Base. The Antonov AN-124 made its way from a production facility in Decatur, Alabama, to deliver the booster Nov. 20.

  • Physical therapy Airmen provide healing touch

    With today's Air Force being the smallest it has ever been, mitigating lost days due to injury is of the utmost importance. Seeing a range of injuries from wrist pain to post-surgery recovery, the 4th Medical Operations Squadron’s physical therapy technicians aim to get their patients back to good

  • Top AF analysis performer recognized

    Kevin Williams, the director of Air Force Studies, Analyses and Assessments, presented the Lt. Gen. Glenn A. Kent Leadership Award to Jacqueline Henningsen during the fall Corona summit at the U.S. Air Force Academy on Nov. 4.

  • EOD Airmen train for a mission where mistakes are lethal

    Explosive ordnance disposal technicians at Hill Air Force Base, Utah, recently put their skills to the test during a weeklong training event. Skills that require Airmen to be adept in math, chemistry, forensics, mechanics, advanced electrical circuits and have the ability to put the knowledge to use

  • Air University focused on deterrence

    The end of the Cold War, coupled with the conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq, caused American decision-makers to focus on present-day conflicts, but a resurgent Russia, the rise of new non-state actors and new threats in the cyber realm have brought about a renewed focus on the concept of deterrence,

  • How we quit smokin'

    Major components of the Childers Filtration System include sets of filters, air hoses to and from the filter sets and oil drain tubing which send collected oil to a catch bottle, at Dover Air Force Base, Deleware. The CFS was created by a team led by retired Master Sgt. Michael Childers, the former

  • Upgraded E-3 Sentry deploys to combat theater

    The first E-3G Sentry (AWACS) arrived in Southwest Asia Nov. 18, marking the deployment of the most comprehensive modification to the weapon system in its 38-year history. The Block 40/45 improved communications, computer processing power, threat tracking and other capabilities.

  • Air Force acquisition lead moves to MITRE

    The Air Force announced Nov. 18 that Dr. William A. LaPlante, the assistant secretary of the Air Force for acquisition, is transitioning from government service to a senior position at the MITRE Corporation, a not-for-profit organization that operates federally funded research and development

  • Strengthening alliances with music

    The U.S. Air Force Band of the Pacific performed at the 2015 Japan Self-Defense Force Marching Festival at the Nippon Budokan Arena in Tokyo Nov. 13-15.

  • The unstoppable Airman

    Airman 1st Class Tanya Brown was a fulltime everything three years ago -- beautician, livestock farmer, college student, wife and mother to four children. Then, not being one to shy away from a challenge, the 35 year old decided to join the Air National Guard.

  • Eglin crew chiefs advance with F-35

    As the Air Force continues to develop their newest fighter jet, the F-35 Lightning II, the 33rd Fighter Wing ensures the Airmen tasked with taking care of it receive the training they need to advance with it.

  • 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.

  • Obama: U.S., allies will redouble efforts in wake of ISIL attacks

    The G-20 meeting in Antalya, Turkey, that ended Nov. 16 was supposed to address the economy. But the Nov. 13 terrorist attack on Paris changed that agenda, and President Barack Obama pledged to redouble efforts against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant.

  • Mountain Home Airmen, guardsmen operate as team in medical training

    For the second time this year, Mountain Home Air Force Base hosted a Gunfighter Flag exercise to keep Airmen ready for possible real-world scenarios. Gunfighter Flag doesn't just keep the Mountain Home Airmen ready, but it also allows them to practice total force integration as it often has

  • Sharpening a resume with purpose, relevance

    Writing a resume for federal employment consideration doesn't have to be daunting. In fact, it's about providing an applicant's best qualities when it comes to showcasing workplace responsibilities, education and career accomplishments.

  • Yokota enhances capabilities through exercise

    Members of the 374th Airlift Wing participated in exercise Vigilant Ace 16 from Nov. 1-10, in conjunction with a Samurai Readiness Inspection at Yokota Air Base. Vigilant Ace is a large-scale exercise on the Korean Peninsula designed to enhance the interoperability of U.S. and allied forces through

  • F-15Es arrive at Inclirlik Air Base

    Six F-15E Strike Eagles arrived at Incirlik Air Base, Turkey, Nov. 12 in a demonstration of the United States' unwavering support to peace and stability in the region.

  • Denton Program delivers the goods

    A C-5 Galaxy delivered 23,415 pounds of humanitarian aid supplies to Soto Cano Air Base, Honduras, Nov. 9 through the Denton Program.

  • Air Force shows leadership, commitment in Dubai

    American Airmen showcased the capability of airpower through senior leader engagements, Airmen interactions with a global audience, and aircraft on the ground and thundering through the skies at the 2015 Dubai Airshow during the week of Nov. 11.

  • No second chances: AFE Airmen ensure pilot safety

    Pilots rush into the locker room, preparing for another day of flying. Laughing and joking, they throw on their gear and grab their helmets. To them, it's just another day, but the Airmen that serviced their equipment look on slightly anxiously as they see the pilots walk out the door to their

  • AF veterans reveal what Veterans Day means to them

    The day when nearly 70 bullets riddled his HH-3E Jolly Green Giant rescue helicopter as his crew tried to save two Airmen during the Vietnam War remains vivid for retired Chief Master Sgt. Dennis Richardson. It was March 14, 1968, and Richardson, a flight engineer at the time, and others were called

  • Linking continents through refueling

    Eight KC-10 Extenders, including two from the 32nd Air Refueling Squadron, refueled seven C-17 Globemaster IIIs over the Atlantic Ocean as they participated in the Trident Juncture exercise Nov. 3.Trident Juncture included 36,000 personnel from more than 30 nations and demonstrated NATO's increased

  • Buddies for life: Airmen maintain friendship throughout AF careers

    Seventeen years ago, a young Darko Desancic got on a school bus for his first day of sixth grade. While on his way, it didn't take long for one boy to make fun of his foreign accent. Little did they know that the friendly banter would be the start of a lasting friendship. Fast forward to 2015, Tech

  • Cadet earns top Civil Air Patrol honor

    Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark A. Welsh III presented the General Carl A. Spaatz Award to Cadet Col. Matthew Jackson, a Civil Air Patrol cadet, during a Nov. 9 ceremony at the Pentagon.

  • Eglin AFB wins 2015 federal energy award

    The award recognizes Eglin Air Force Base's innovative approach for combining advanced technologies and common sense to saving critical energy resources and reducing utility costs for the base.

  • AF veteran survivor of three wars, plane crash

    Retired Lt. Col. Alma Skousen, a humble, soft-spoken 89-year-old fighter pilot, served his country during three wars, encountered Soviet MiG fighters in battle and survived a jet crash before ending his flying career as the 311th Tactical Fighter Training Squadron, now known as the 311th Fighter

  • Doolittle Raider honored with shadow box

    Lt. Col. Richard E. Cole, one of two surviving members of the Doolittle Raiders, just turned 100 years old in September. He is as lively as ever and received a shadow box during his visit, Nov. 5.

  • November is Warrior Care Month

    TRICARE is a health care program for uniformed service members, National Guard and Reserve members, retirees, survivors and their families around the world. We ensure our beneficiaries receive care that is proven both safe and effective. This month, make time to learn about all the health care

  • UK rescue squadrons to relocate to Italy

    The 56th and 57th Rescue squadrons from Royal Air Force Lakenheath, United Kingdom, are relocating to Aviano Air Base, Italy, starting in fiscal year 2017, Air Force leaders announced Nov. 6.

  • ESPN SportsCenter to broadcast from Academy on Veterans Day

    The Air Force Academy is scheduled to host ESPN on Veterans Day for a live telecast of its flagship program, SportsCenter.The Academy visit will anchor a week of network programming as part of ESPN's seventh annual America's Heroes salute.

  • Global Strike Airmen support largest NATO exercise in 20 years

    Two B-52 Stratofortress aircrews assigned to Air Force Global Strike Command conducted a long-range bomber mission to the U.S. European Command area of operations Nov. 3-4 as part of Trident Juncture 2015 -- the largest NATO exercise in the past 20 years.

  • Airmen work hand-in-paw with four-legged wingmen

    The Andersen AFB kennels are one of the largest out of more than 70 facilities across the Air Force. While the military working dogs may remind many of the homebound pets of base housing, these trained workers are a force to be reckoned with at all times.

  • Airfield managers maintain flightline during Vigilant Ace 16

    During the readiness exercise Vigilant Ace 16, every participating aircraft requires a safe and functioning flightline in order to complete their mission-specific directives. Airmen assigned to the 51st Operations Support Squadron airfield management flight are responsible for ensuring the

  • Guardsmen deliver rescue capabilities across Pacific

    Alaska Air National Guardsmen from the 176th Wing, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, conducted long range search and rescue drills Oct. 31 near the coast of White Beach Naval Base.A 212th Rescue Squadron guardian angel rescue team was delivered across the Pacific Ocean on a nearly 12-hour, nonstop

  • First lady visits, praises troops at Al Udeid AB

    The service members at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar, are performing demanding duty without complaint as they represent the United States, first lady Michelle Obama told troops on the base Nov. 3.Joined by late night talk show host Conan O'Brien and other entertainers to perform a USO-style show, Obama

  • ‘Black Widows’ arrive at Bagram for final F-16 deployment

    Airmen assigned to the 421st Fighter Squadron arrived Oct. 28 for its last F-16 Fighting Falcon deployment in support of Operation Freedom’s Sentinel and NATO’s Resolute Support mission as the unit begins to shift to a newer aircraft.

  • Travis doctor saves hero Airman's life

    By the 20th hour of her 30-hour shift, she had already managed two gunshot victims when the call came into the emergency room.Just 2 miles away, an ambulance rushed to transport a 23-year-old male suffering from multiple stab wounds to Sacramento's only Level 1 trauma center, located at UC Davis

  • KC-46A equipment processing begins at McConnell

    Another step toward the KC-46A Pegasus flying over Kansas started late October as 22nd Logistics Readiness Squadron Airmen began paving an innovative path through the maintenance equipment review process.

  • US, Polish airmen build capabilities, partnership

    The 86th and 182nd Airlift Wings are participating in bilateral training with the Polish Air Force during Aviation Detachment 16-1 in support of Operation Atlantic Resolve at Powdiz Air Base, Poland.

  • Full-time Airman, part-time MMA fighter

    Mixed martial arts fighting is not for the faint hearted. It takes effort and full-time dedication to be the best of the best in the octagonal cage. For Senior Airman Mark Wirth, a 819th RED HORSE Squadron structural engineer, he believes he has the motivation and dedication to rise from amateur to

  • AF announces KC-46A preferred, reasonable alternatives

    Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, North Carolina, has been chosen as the preferred alternative for the first Reserve-led KC-46A Pegasus main operating base, Air Force officials announced Oct. 29. The KC-46As are expected to begin arriving in 2019.

  • Shaw Airmen support flood-stricken communities

    When Hurricane Joaquin moved near the East Coast early October, the storm dumped record rainfall on South Carolina for six days, causing severe flooding across the state. In response, Shaw Air Force Base organizations assisted local communities, providing disaster relief to those affected by the

  • AF leaders testify on F-35 progress

    Leaders in the F-35 Lightning II Joint Program Office and the Air Force F-35 Integration Office testified on the fifth-generation aircraft’s development before a House Armed Services subcommittee Oct. 21 on Capitol Hill.

  • 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.

  • Peterson Airman’s tragic loss exemplifies resiliency

    After getting orders to South Korea, Tech. Sgt. Billy Gazzaway was missing his family, as anyone would. Far away from them, he received the horrible news that his 4-year-old son, who had already been diagnosed, treated and was in remission for leukemia, had relapsed.

  • Complex closes out productive year with 217 aircraft serviced

    A total of 217 aircraft -- including C-5 Galaxy, C-17 Globemaster III, C-130 Hercules and F-15 Eagle models -- were serviced in fiscal year 2015, which ended Sept. 30. That number includes 15 unscheduled depot-level maintenance aircraft, with two C-5s, three C-17s and 10 C-130s.

  • Military kids learn life lessons from NBA pros

    Seventy-five Defense Department youth from various military installations here learned life lessons and basketball skills from NBA legend Bruce Bowen and San Antonio Spurs guard Patty Mills during a Junior NBA clinic at Cole High School on Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston Oct. 19.

  • Family isn't always blood

    People like routines, schedules and structure, especially in the military. Change can sometimes be unwelcome and overwhelming, particularly if it's a sudden, drastic change due to an illness. For Tech. Sgt. Thomas Echelmeyer, of the 21st Aerospace Medicine Squadron, that's exactly what happened. His

  • KC-46 test aircraft touches down at Edwards

    The KC-46 program's first test aircraft, a Boeing 767-2C (EMD-1), departed from its home at Boeing Field in Seattle and touched down at Edwards Air Force Base for the first time for testing Oct. 15.

  • Selva: USO volunteers offer hope to service members

    The USO volunteer force brings hope to service members in every corner of the planet, said Gen. Paul J. Selva, the vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, during the 2015 USO Gala and awards ceremony Oct. 20.

  • Radar upgrades ensure situation awareness

    A Battle Management program to improve Air Force long-range radar systems recently reached full operational capability when all long-range sites were certified and deemed effective.

  • Latin American cadets learn about airlift

    Dover Air Force Base officials hosted 26 cadets from 13 countries in Central and South America as they toured the base's transport aircraft types during a visit Oct. 15.

  • Cybersecurity, OPSEC vital to mission success

    Every day, Air Force organizations and personnel are reminded of the importance of operations security and cybersecurity, and how integrating them into day-to-day operations helps protect proprietary and sensitive information from disclosure, espionage and exploitation.

  • Pope Airman awarded DOD’s ‘Spirit of Hope’

    Tech. Sgt. Rebeca Martin, assigned to the U.S. Air Force Combat Control School, was honored by the Defense Department during a ceremony Oct. 16 at the Pentagon where she received the 2015 Spirit of Hope Award, named after the legendary entertainer Bob Hope to recognize selfless service and a