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U.S. Air Force News

  • KC-135 MOD program closes out year with magic number: Block 45

    The KC-135 Block 45 upgrade program reached a milestone by closing out 2016 with the 45th aircraft in the modification line here. Block 45 completely remodels the inside of the flight deck with new liquid crystal displays, radio altimeter, autopilot, digital flight director and other computer module

  • USAFE: Yesterday, today, tomorrow

    From the creation of Eighth Air Force in 1942, to Operation Atlantic Resolve in 2017, U.S. Air Forces in Europe has answered the call to service for 75 years.USAFE’s 75th anniversary is Jan. 19, but the command will celebrate the diamond anniversary of the U.S. Air Force presence in Europe on Jan.

  • AETC’s 75th Anniversary and the birth of a professional Air Force

    On Jan. 23, 2017, Air Education and Training Command celebrated its 75th anniversary — a date much more important in our nation’s heritage than a simple mark in time. Jan. 23, 1942, proved to be the birth of a professional Air Force – men and women precisely selected and trained to fly, fight and

  • Disbrow to serve as acting AF secretary

    Under secretary of the Air Force Lisa S. Disbrow will serve as the acting secretary of the Air Force as of Jan. 20, until the President nominates and the Senate confirms a permanent replacement.

  • Around the Air Force: Jan. 20

    On this look around the Air Force, Airmen lend a helping hand to support the inauguration and service members conduct subject matter expert exchanges at Clark AB, Philippines.

  • AF refuelers enable B-2 strike against ISIL in Libya

    KC-135 Stratotanker and KC-10 Extender crews from five bases on three continents provided aerial refueling support during the B-2 Spirit bomber mission which struck two Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant training camps in Libya Jan. 18, 2017.

  • Air Force faces fighter pilot shortage

    The Air Force is in the midst of a pilot shortage. While most platforms are affected by the shortage, the fighter pilot community has been hit the hardest.

  • AF Week in Photos

    This week's photos feature Airmen from around the globe involved in activities supporting expeditionary operations and defending America. This weekly feature showcases the men and women of the Air Force.

  • James awards Maxwell Airman two Silver Stars

    Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James spent her final day in office honoring an Airman here Jan. 19, 2017.Before a packed auditorium of base leadership, River Region community leaders and Air University students, James presented two Silver Star medals to Col. Christopher Barnett for his actions in

  • AF fighter jets practice for inauguration flyover

    Four Air Force fighter jets practiced for the inauguration flyover at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia, Jan. 19, 2017.Two generations of fighter aircraft are scheduled to fly in a close formation during the inauguration of President-elect Donald J. Trump at the capitol in Washington, D.C., Jan.

  • Goldfein addresses priorities for the 21st century

    Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David L. Goldfein outlined his perspective on the future of American airpower and how Airmen “deployed in place” play a vital role in today’s Air Force during his discussion at the American Enterprise Institute Public Forum in Washington, D.C., Jan. 18, 2017.

  • Around the Air Force: Jan. 18

    On this look around the Air Force, Airmen at Edwards Air Force Base, California, developed a new way to reduce the cost of testing fire suppression systems, a satellite launched from Vandenberg AFB, California, and Civilian Health Promotion Services is helping people quit smoking.

  • Travis environmental restoration program is certified, sustainable

    Saving money, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and implementing green and sustainable remediation (GSR) to clean up contaminated groundwater sites recently earned Travis Air Force Base the honor of becoming the first Defense Department installation to receive greener cleanup certification by ASTM

  • Utility of genetics clinical study seeks volunteers across AF

    In partnership with the Coriell Personalized Medicine Collaborative, recruitment has begun for Phase II of the Air Force Medical Service Personalized Medicine Clinical Utility Study. The aim of the study is to evaluate the utility of genetics and genomics in clinical care.

  • Maintainer-turned-fighter pilot puts new skills to the test

    (This feature is part of the "Through Airmen's Eyes" series. These stories focus on individual Airmen, highlighting their Air Force story.) When Capt. David was a child, his father would take him out to the flightline at Canon Air Force Base, New Mexico, and sit him in the cockpit of an F-111

  • AF introduces new Energy Flight Plan

    The Air Force introduced a new Energy Flight Plan, signed by Miranda Ballentine, the assistant secretary of the Air Force for installations, environment and energy, on Jan. 6.

  • Edwards AFB reduces cost for fire suppression test

    Members of the F-35 Integrated Test Force developed a new funnel system that captures the foam or water deluge during required hangar fire-suppression system tests, saving $79,750 and several days of delay, which can be critically important for test programs.

  • Around the Air Force: Jan. 13

    On this look around the Air Force, Secretary of the Air Force Deborah Lee James bids farewell as the SecAF, and major changes are coming to the Air Force’s tattoo policy.

  • AF Week in Photos

    This week's photos feature Airmen from around the globe involved in activities supporting expeditionary operations and defending America. This weekly feature showcases the men and women of the Air Force.

  • Scott AFB celebrates century of service

    Located in the heartland of America, Scott Air Force Base marked the historic milestone with a kickoff celebration Jan. 7 that helped launch a yearlong effort to honor its heritage, thank its mission and community partners and posture the installation for the next 100 years.

  • AFPC to host EFMP webinars Jan. 12

    The Air Force Personnel Center will hold two Exceptional Family Member Program webinars Jan. 12 discussing the program’s three components – assignments, medical and family support.

  • Around the Air Force: Jan. 10

    On this look around the Air Force Secretary of the Air Force Deborah Lee James talks about her priorities during her tenure.

  • AF agency helps ‘bring life’ to mission innovation

    The Air Force Installation Contracting Agency’s Business Intelligence Competency Cell promotes logical research when it comes to operational acquisition. It may seem simplistic when taken at surface value, but what the BICC is doing within the Air Force is ‘bringing life’ to mission innovation. As a

  • AF selects 929 for promotion to captain

    The Air Force selected 929 first lieutenants for promotion to captain during the calendar year 2016C Captain Line of the Air Force, Chaplain, Line of the Air Force-Judge Advocate, Nurse Corps, Medical Service Corps and Biomedical Service Corps quarterly selection process.

  • SecAF highlights progress at AFA breakfast

    Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James addressed the Air Force Association’s Air Force Breakfast Series Jan. 6, at the Key Bridge Marriot in Arlington, Virginia.

  • Around the Air Force: Jan. 6

    On this look around the Air Force, President Obama says farewell to service members and new synthetic tie downs and winch cables on the C-17 Globemaster III are saving the Air Force money. Hosted by Airman 1st Class Jasmine Vanderheyden.

  • AF, NASA partner for mission success

    Developed in the mid-1990s by the NASA Geographic Information System office, the Flood Impact Analysis Tool illustrates the effects of localized tidal storm flooding.

  • US-led coalition airstrikes eliminate key ISIL leaders in Syria, Iraq

    U.S.-led coalition airstrikes in Iraq and Syria targeting the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant have recently killed several prominent leaders of that organization, Air Force Col. John Dorrian, Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve spokesman, said during a news briefing Jan. 4,

  • JB Charleston test new equipment, saves AF millions

    An operational evaluation of new synthetic tie downs and winch cables for the C-17 Globemaster III took place here in November 2016. Tie downs are ropes, cords, straps or chains that secure items during airlift operations; winch cables help adjust the tension on tie downs, securing the load.

  • Around the Air Force: Jan. 4

    On this look around the Air Force, Airmen march in the Rose Parade, coalition forces conduct more than 70 airstrikes in Syria and Iraq since the New Year, and an Air Force amputee is attempting to resume his career in Pararescue. Hosted by Airman 1st Class Cory Kuttler

  • USAF Total Force Band plays in Rose Parade

    The United States Air Force Total Force Band kicked off the Air Force’s 70th birthday celebrations by playing at several venues in Southern California, culminating in an appearance in the 128th Rose Parade Jan. 2.

  • AF program assists special needs family members

    The Air Force Exceptional Family Member Program allows Airmen to proceed to assignment locations where suitable medical, educational and other resources are available to treat special needs family members.

  • Airman finds potential through EPR

    Enlisted performance reports have the power to affect an Airman’s career. For one Airman, an EPR had the power to change how he saw his life. Staff Sgt. Preston Moten, a 20th Equipment Maintenance Squadron aerospace ground equipment schedule and training monitor, said the rating from his first EPR

  • New civilian appraisal program to begin in April

    The Air Force will roll out a new Department of Defense civilian appraisal program in April 2017, designed to improve overall job performance, enhance supervisor and employee communication and more effectively develop and reward the workforce.

  • Top 10 most viewed AF stories of 2016

    The Air Force News Service has compiled a list of the top 10 stories on AF.mil for 2016. The stories were placed in order based on the number of views.

  • Around the Air Force: Dec. 28

    On this look around the Air Force, Airmen from the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing prepare meals for forward deployed service members and B-52s conduct combined joint operations. Hosted by Staff Sgt. Nicholas Koetz.

  • New Year, new you: Take control of your own health

    A new year can mean new opportunities, new discoveries and maybe a few new goals. While the New Year’s Resolution is a common tradition, many of them get abandoned long before the new year is gone again. Setting goals for a healthier you is something everyone can do, if you do it right.

  • FY 17 NDAA impact on Airmen

    The approval of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2017 provides a number of changes for Airmen, retirees, and families, to include stabilizing readiness and end strength, improving pilot retention, modernizing compensation and benefits and enhancing transparency in the

  • Phantom's phinale

    Lt. Col. Ronald King, her pilot, grinned and eased her forward on the way into history. Today was 21 December. This was the final flight of the QF-4 Phantom – the final flight of AF 349 – and after 53 dedicated years of superior service, the final flight of the Phantom II would be done right.

  • Around the Air Force: Dec. 23

    On this look around the Air Force the first Japanese F-35 arrives at Luke Air Force Base, Arizona; Edwards AFB in California is testing ways to save fueling cost for the C-17 Globemaster III; and the Air Force band performs at the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C.

  • Goldfein visits ISR Airmen

    Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David L. Goldfein met with Airmen and leaders at 25th Air Force Headquarters in San Antonio Dec. 19.

  • Air Force needs to grow to 350,000

    In ongoing efforts to size and shape the force to current and future requirements, Air Force officials explained why the service needs to grow to 350,000 active-duty Airmen over the next seven years.

  • AF announces 2016 Information Dominance Award winners

    Lt. Gen William Bender, the Air Force chief of information dominance and chief information officer, recently announced the winners of the 2016 General John P. Jumper Awards for Excellence in Warfighting Integration and the Air Force Information Dominance Annual Awards. The Air Force-level awards

  • Scoping it out: Shaw evaluated for Reaper mission

    Teams from Air Combat Command and Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri, conducted a site survey at Shaw AFB Dec. 13, to assess the base as a candidate for an MQ-9 Reaper mission.Shaw AFB is one of four installations being evaluated for a wing-level mission, and one of five in the running for a

  • AF contingency response wing supports Army exercise

    Airmen from the 621st Contingency Response Wing worked with Soldiers from Fort Wainwright, Alaska, to load 10 AH-64 Apache helicopters and two Stryker armored vehicles in extreme cold weather during the Rapid Alaska Airlift Week exercise Dec. 10-16.

  • Around the Air Force: Dec. 20

    On this look around the Air Force, the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant is crippled by airstrikes, the 45th Space Wing launches a satellite which will increase internet speed and other satellites that will measure ocean surface winds.

  • AFCENT helps deployed Airmen reach for their dreams

    Deployed Airmen often miss opportunities afforded to those back home; but personnel specialists at Air Forces Central Command headquarters here ensured deployed enlisted Airmen did not miss one opportunity – to pursue their ambitions of becoming part of the first group of enlisted pilots since World

  • AFVSA to implement new RPA childcare

    To combat these one-of-a-kind challenges, personnel from the Air Force Services Activity headquarters in Joint Base San Antonio, Texas, recently met with military members and conducted interviews here where they discussed new and evolving childcare options.

  • Around the Air Force: Dec. 16

    On this look around the Air Force, Secretary of the Air Force Deborah Lee James held a Facebook town hall to address concerns from Airmen and their family members, and President Barack Obama spoke with Airmen at MacDill Air Force Base, Florida.

  • AF Week in Photos

    This week's photos feature Airmen from around the globe involved in activities supporting expeditionary operations and defending America. This weekly feature showcases the men and women of the Air Force.

  • AF Marathon registration to open Jan. 2

    Registration for the 2017 Air Force Marathon will begin Jan. 2 at 9 a.m. EST. Registration will open with special New Year’s resolution discounts, and participants who register Jan. 2 will receive $10 off the full or half-marathon and $5 off the 10K or 5K.The change from the traditional Jan. 1 date

  • Around the Air Force: Dec. 13

    On this look around the Air Force, Airmen deliver the first F-35s to Israel, Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James visits Airmen at F.E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyoming, and Airmen attend the Enhancing Human Capital course.

  • Air Force Week In Photos

    This week's photos feature Airmen from around the globe involved in activities supporting expeditionary operations and defending America. This weekly feature showcases the men and women of the Air Force.

  • Around the Air Force: Dec. 9

    On this look around the Air Force, Secretary of the Air Force Deborah Lee James speaks at the Reagan National Defense Forum, the Air Force releases F-35A Lightning II candidate bases, and Operation Christmas Drop is underway.

  • SECAF’s top 10 themes discussed at spouse, family forum

    During a spouse and family forum hosted by Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James in October, participants submitted more than 170 threads on the forum’s event page. The topics included spouse employment and child care access; Air Force programs for families with special needs; and schools,

  • JTACs enable aerial reaction force mission

    Joint terminal air controllers from the 817th Expeditionary Air Support Operations Squadron out of Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, recently began a partnership with Task Force Fighting Eagle’s aerial reaction force to provide JTAC capabilities to their missions.

  • AF selects 58 for test pilot school

    Air Force officials have selected 58 primary and alternate students for the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Naval Test Pilot schools, with classes beginning June 2017.

  • Around the Air Force: Dec. 6

    On this look around the Air Force an A-10 Thunderbolt II pilot reaches 6,000 flight hours, the new AC-130J successfully drops bombs for the first time, and a new IRS law that may change when you receive your refund.

  • Civilian tuition assistance increases to $1M, expands eligibility

    The Air Force has received an additional $400,000, for a total of $1 million, for its 2017 civilian tuition assistance program, and all permanent, full-time appropriated fund employees, including those in wage-grade positions, are now eligible to participate.

  • AF Week in Photos

    This week's photos feature Airmen from around the globe involved in activities supporting expeditionary operations and defending America. This weekly feature showcases the men and women of the Air Force.

  • Around the Air Force: Dec. 2

    On this look around the Air Force the first Japanese F-35 arrives at Luke Air Force Base, Arizona; Edwards AFB in California is testing ways to save fueling cost for the C-17 Globemaster III; and the Air Force band performs at the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C.

  • Whiteman pilot reflects on 6,000 hours in the A-10

    Nearly three decades of flying and 11 combat deployments later, Lt. Col. John Marks, a pilot with the 303rd Fighter Squadron has achieved a milestone that equates to 250 days in the cockpit, which most fighter pilots will never reach and puts him among the highest time fighter pilots in the Air

  • AF partners with OSU for stress evaluation, recovery methods

    The Air Force Research Laboratory, 711th Human Performance Wing, has signed a cooperative research and development agreement with the Ohio State University. Special operations units in the Defense Department are physically and mentally elite due to the training they endure. Since special operations

  • Around the Air Force: Nov. 29

    On this look around the Air Force the commander of Air Combat Command visits deployed Airmen, the Berlin Airlift Memorial is reopened, and a specialized stretcher for traumatic brain and spinal injury patients is being tested.

  • New program to help ISR aircrews cope with different kind of PTSD

    Finding targets by watching and listening is, by nature, intensely personal and can have a long-lasting effect, to include post-traumatic stress disorder, on intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance Airmen involved. The 361st ISR Group is developing a ‘Re-Fit’ program which will assist Airmen

  • Bully Brothers

    Airman 1st Class Jarret Nave, a 91st Missile Maintenance Squadron electro-mechanical technician, knew where he wished to be stationed when he booked the same job as his older brother. As fate would have it, he ended up with the same job as his brother Senior Airman Todd Nave, a 91st MMXS missile

  • Around the Air Force: Nov. 25

    On this look around the Air Force, NASA launches a new weather satellite, Airmen train with Marines during Vigilant Ace 17-1, and Serbian support during World War II is commemorated.

  • AF supports improved method for transporting TBI patients

    Scientists with the U.S. Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine are playing an important part in the testing and evaluation of a novel aeromedical evacuation stretcher designed to safely transport traumatic brain and spinal injury patients in air and ground vehicles.

  • AF Week in Photos

    This week's photos feature Airmen from around the globe involved in activities supporting expeditionary operations and defending America. This weekly feature showcases the men and women of the Air Force.

  • Training ISR warriors faster, smarter through mobile apps

    There are roughly 12,000 intelligence professionals assigned to 25th Air Force, 70 percent have less than five years of military service, and most of those Airmen are millennials; multi-taskers who thrive on high-tech, mobile and innovative training methods.

  • A different path to citizenship

    Being an American citizen may seem ordinary for most, but for some Airmen, the path to citizenship is anything but ordinary. Senior Airman Michael Mwelwa, a 60th Comptroller Squadron military pay technician, was awarded U.S. citizenship in May at the age of 23. Mwelwa was born in Zambia, a country

  • Around the Air Force: Nov. 22

    On this look around the Air Force, Holloman Air Force Base in New Mexico has been selected to be the interim home for two F-16 Fighting Falcon training squadrons, the secretary of defense got a close look at special operations Airmen at work, and the Air Force has concluded an F-16 crash