HomeNews

NATO Air Policing operations

U.S. Air Force News

  • C-17 aircrew scores touchdown in mission with NFL greats

    The quarterback was crouched in his uniform, scanning the field from under his helmet for his intended receivers. But this was no stadium; it was a C-17 Globemaster III flying over the harsh and dangerous terrain that is Afghanistan. And there was no football, but rather 18 much-needed bundles of

  • Oct. 24 airpower summary: C-130s provide tactical airlift

    Coalition airpower integrated with ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force troops in Afghanistan during operations Oct. 24, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here. In Afghanistan, Air Force F-15E Strike Eagles flew armed reconnaissance in the

  • Air Force finishes safest flying year

    Fiscal 2009 was the safest flying year in the 62-year history of the Air Force.  There were only 17 Class A mishaps. The next best year was fiscal 2006 with 19 Class A mishaps. A Class A mishap is one where there is loss of life, an injury resulting in permanent total disability, the destruction of

  • Air Force officials unveil new strategic basing process

    Senior Air Force officials have applied a new basing process to more than 200 sites for training and operational basing of the F-35 Lightning II joint strike fighter aircraft. In fall 2008, Secretary of the Air Force Michael B. Donley and Air Force Chief of Staff Norton Schwartz sought to redefine

  • Simulator helps attack controllers train

    Coalition and joint terminal attack controllers used a simulator to hone their skills in calling in close-air support during U.S. Joint Forces Command's advanced-concept technology demonstration Bold Quest 2009, which concluded here and at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, N.C., Nov. 5. The

  • Airman culture key to Exercise Salitre success

    Exercise Salitre ended Oct. 30 with a total force effort of nearly 200 active-duty and Air National Guard Airmen representing five U.S. bases, and supporting coalition efforts to strengthen regional military ties and interoperability. The exercise, hosted by the Chilean air force integrated Airmen

  • Air Force Week in Photos

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

  • Nellis programs to have regional reach

    Two new programs here are focused on getting care and services to wounded or sick servicemembers and to military families during their loved ones' deployments.Once word gets out about their programs, the coordinators hope their reach goes beyond Nellis Air Force Base and neighboring Creech AFB, to

  • Airmen train Iraqi police

    Iraqi policemen from the city of Nasiriyah earned explosive ordnance disposal patches Nov. 4 after completing training with Air Force EOD technicians assigned to Task Force Troy at Forward Operating Base Cedar. The training, conducted by three Airmen, is part of a six-week course offered to the

  • General calls for focus on protecting satellites

    The chief of U.S. Strategic Command wants better tools for protecting against threats from space debris -- an estimated 20,000 pieces of manmade material orbiting around the planet. Gen. Kevin P. Chilton laid out what he described as his "wish list" Nov. 4, emphasizing the importance of being able

  • Photo essay: Night exercise at Osan Air Base

    Airmen from the 51st Security Forces Squadron participated in a night training exercise here to evacuate Airmen from a "car bombed" building and to oppose the "enemy" forces that were planning to ambush the evacuees Nov. 3, 2009. The simulation was part of a base operational readiness

  • Malian forces improve proficiency at English language lab

    Members of U.S. Air Forces Africa toured the Malian Air Force English Language Lab in Bamako that prepares officers for training in other nations as well as participation in United Nations peacekeeping missions.Before an international student can apply to attend a U.S. Air Force training program, he

  • Iraqi air force acquires advanced radar system

    Iraqi air force officials advanced their air defense monitoring capabilities after a ceremony marked the transfer of a digital air surveillance radar from American control to Iraqi control Oct. 26 here. "Today, another historical day added to our brothers and the Iraqi air force," said Iraqi air

  • Airmen provide Iraqis building skills

    Airmen of the 506th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron here work with local Iraqis daily teaching them various trade skills as they team together to improve the infrastructure at Kirkuk Air Base. "I was given the opportunity to teach the local nationals what we could with the jobs that we're

  • Servicemembers earn national security awards

    The Air Force chief of staff and two Airmen were among the honorees at the Jewish Institute for National Security Affairs awards dinner here Nov. 2. The event honored the 2009 JINSA Henry M. "Scoop" Jackson Distinguished Service Award and Grateful Nation Award winners. Created to recognize leaders

  • Reconstruction team delivers school supplies to Afghan soldiers

    Airmen and Soldiers from the Zabul Provincial Reconstruction Team delivered school supplies to an Afghanistan National Army compound here Oct. 27. The delivery of supplies is part of an ongoing project to help educate the young soldiers, many of whom have nothing more than an elementary school level

  • Air Guard members are flexible, adaptable to change, says Wyatt

    The Air National Guard still provides the best bang for the buck because of the ability and flexibility of its Airmen, the reserve component's director told hundreds of Air Guard enlisted members in Dallas Nov. 3. "We will leverage those to provide the country with the most affordable, the best

  • Joint Base Andrews Firefighters provide blaze-battling training

    If it wasn't for the base fire training facility at Joint Base Andrews, Md., the Washington D.C. Fire Department would have fewer 'recruits turned firefighters' to fight its blazes in the city. "Our facility is currently under construction and the Andrews Fire Department and base commander have

  • Little Rock officials lead joint force training effort at exercise

    Members of the 19th Airlift Wing from Little Rock Air Force Base, Ark., took the lead at the Joint Forcible Entry Exercise 10-01 held here Oct. 25 through 29. The purpose of the JFEX is to re-establish forcible entry capability through airpower by combining Army and Air Force training needs, said

  • Air Force engineers help keep Afghan roads safe for travel

    "Roads bring people. People bring business and business improves life for everyone." These words, spoken in 2006 by Canadian Brig. Gen. Daniel Pepin, then the deputy general for reconstruction projects in Afghanistan, have proven prophetic, as, three years later, the ability to move vehicles and

  • Air Force mission requires diverse talent

    The Airman in charge of leading the Air Force's diversity efforts said the work is a "strategic imperative" for the service and our nation. "The Air Force's global engagement strategy requires a different approach -- a different mindset," said Col. Shawna O'Brien, chief of the Air Force's new

  • Lone Airman at Combat Outpost Keating recounts enemy attack

    Being the only Airman assigned to an Army Combat Outpost on the outskirts of Afghanistan-Pakistan border can be a little intimidating and scary. Being assigned to COP Keating while under attack by hundreds of insurgents armed with assault rifles and rocket propelled grenades is absolutely

  • Photo essay: Cold, snow no obstacle for Ellsworth crew

    Airmen of the 28th Maintenance Group keep the B-1B Lancer functional Oct. 29, 2009, on the flightline here. Despite the extreme cold and large snowfall in the South Dakota climate, the maintainers are on constant standby to assure all aircraft are ready for take-off at all times.View the slideshow.

  • DOD officials: Military will have enough H1N1 vaccine

    As shipments of some 3.7 million doses of H1N1 vaccine ordered by the Defense Department continue to arrive from the manufacturer, more than enough will be available for all military personnel and their beneficiaries, military medical experts said here Oct. 30. Navy Cmdr. Danny Shiau, in the

  • Air Guard readies for C-27J fleet

    For the first time, Air National Guard aircrews will be the sole operators of a new aircraft straight off the assembly line. The C-27J Spartan, the latest propeller-driven airlifter, is an "extremely rugged" aircraft, designed for austere environments, said Air Force officials. It is about half the

  • Security forces Airmen, Soldiers mentor Afghan prison guards

    Air Force security forces members along with Army Soldiers from the Zabul Provincial Reconstruction Team met with prison officials as part of an on-going mentoring project at a nearby prison here Oct. 28. The prison, located close to the PRT compound, has become an important project for the team due

  • BEAST gets rave reviews a year after opening

    Air Force officials here had high expectations for the Basic Expeditionary Airman Skills Training course that opened in December 2008, which coincided with the expansion of Basic Military Training to 8.5 weeks. "I think the BEAST is running exceptionally well," said Col. Shane Courville, the 737th

  • Air Force Global Strike Command leaders release command's mission, vision

    Air Force Global Strike Command officials gathered to zero-in on the organization's course, as well as review and discuss guidance from national leaders regarding the creation, stand-up and objectives for the command Oct. 15 through 17 near the National Military Park in Vicksburg, Miss.Facilitating

  • Photo essay: USAFE Band tours Poland

    The 41-piece U.S. Air Forces in Europe Band toured Poland, and performed six concerts in various cities.  The band is touring the country to support the international relations program sponsored by USAFE Commander Gen. Roger Brady in partnership with the U.S. State Department.View the slideshow.

  • Minot bomb wing commander relieved of duty

    The commander of the 5th Bomb Wing at Minot Air Force Base, N.D., was relieved of command Oct. 30 due to loss of confidence in his ability to command. Col. Joel S. Westa was removed by Maj. Gen. Floyd L. Carpenter, commander of 8th Air Force. Colonel Westa assumed command in November 2007. Colonel

  • Nurse commissioning program seeks enlisted applicants

    Officials at the Air Force Personnel Center here will conduct the annual Nurse Enlisted Commissioning Program board May 11-13 to select candidates for fall 2010 start dates. The program offers active-duty enlisted personnel the opportunity to earn a bachelor's degree in a high-need academic major.

  • Colorado, Jordan lead the way as Guard builds worldwide partners

    The roar of jets and flash of live fire in the desert east of this thriving capital city are the loudest and brightest signs of a flourishing National Guard State Partnership Program. "I have been very favorably impressed with how the military-to-military relationships between Colorado and Jordan

  • Ellsworth officials launch digital airport surveillance radar

    Ellsworth Air Force Base officials recently completed the installation of a digital airport surveillance radar system to be used with the Dakota Air Traffic Control Facility here. This modern, digital radar replaces traditional airport-surveillance radar used by air traffic controllers, eliminates

  • Transit Center, Kyrgyz medical teams work together, share ideas

    A Kyrgyz medical team visited here Oct. 27 to learn the Air Force mission and share ideas with Airmen assigned to the 376th Expeditionary Medical Group. The team consisted of local doctors, dentists and pharmacists and was led by Col. Iskender Abykeeev, head of the Kyrgyz Ministry of Defense's

  • U.S. seeks to counter enemy's 'weapon of choice'

    Defense Department officials here said Oct. 29 that they expect U.S. forces in Afghanistan to continue to be targeted by improvised explosive devices -- which have claimed more lives there than any other weapon -- while it seeks ways to counter the threat. As President Barack Obama and his advisers

  • Department takes steps to reduce casualties

    Defense Department officials here have taken steps to stem mounting casualties in Afghanistan, Pentagon Press Secretary Geoff Morrell said here Oct. 29. October has become the deadliest month for American servicemembers in Afghanistan, with 56 killed, and Mr. Morrell said Defense Secretary Robert M.

  • Air Force Week in Photos

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

  • 'Total Fitness' seeks unit, troop effectiveness

    Being fit to fight in today's military means more than simply being physically fit, and through the concept of "total fitness," Defense Department officials hope to build on what many say already is the most resilient force in U.S. military history. Total fitness strikes a balance between strong

  • 4 remotely piloted vehicle squadrons stand up at Holloman

    Air Force officials here stood up three remotely piloted vehicle squadrons and a maintenance squadron under the 49th Fighter Wing during an assumption-of-command ceremony Oct. 23 at Holloman Air Force Base. Members of the four squadrons -- the 29th Attack Squadron, 6th Reconnaissance Squadron, 16th

  • Exercise seeks battlefield information effectiveness

    U.S. warfighters and allies operating in Afghanistan and Iraq depend on various sensor platforms that can provide information about the enemy's whereabouts night or day, a senior U.S. military officer said Oct. 29 here. That's why the annual joint Empire Challenge demonstration, which explores how

  • KC-10 maintainers work around the clock to keep aircraft fuel flowing

    Airmen of the 380th Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron generate KC-10 Extenders to refuel aircraft providing combat support in Afghanistan. "Everything that we do on this ramp directly supports the troops in Afghanistan," said Staff Sgt. Charles Powers, a crew chief from the 380th

  • Officials to announce chief master sergeant selections

    Air Force officials selected 475 of 2,276 eligible senior master sergeants for promotion to chief master sergeant for a selection rate of 20.87 percent. The average score for those selected was 662.78, with an average time in grade of 3.40 and time in service of 23.23 years, respectively, and 24.49

  • Airmen sought for unique, joint program

    Air Force officials are seeking Airmen for a three- to five-year period for a Defense Department program aimed at creating greater continuity, focus and persistent engagement across the battlefield in Afghanistan and Pakistan. The Afghanistan Pakistan Hands program was established by Adm. Mike

  • Air Force officials announce candidate bases for joint strike fighter

    Air Force officials here announced the list of candidate locations Oct. 29 for basing the F-35 Lightning II joint strike fighter. The list of candidate bases was approved by the secretary and chief of staff of the Air Force and identifies the first group of bases to be considered for joint strike

  • DOD officials order enough H1N1 vaccine for National Guard

    Department of Defense officials here have acquired enough doses of the H1N1 flu vaccine to immunize all 460,000 members of the National Guard, officials announced Oct. 29 here. "The DOD supply will go out to the Guard based on their order through the ... U.S. Army Medical Materiel Agency," said Army

  • Reserve Command general delivers latest C-17

    The commander of the Air Force Reserve Command flew and delivered here Oct. 28 the newest C-17 Globemaster III to come off the production line at Boeing's Long Beach, Calif., plant. Lt. Gen. Charles E. Stenner Jr. accompanied by an all-Reserve crew from the 317th Airlift Squadron from Charleston Air

  • One Airman's trash is another Airman's training aid

    Several American and Iraqi airmen are working together to move parts from a wrecked C-130 Hercules on Sather Air Base to New Al Muthana AB where they will be used as training aids for Iraqi aircraft maintainers. The 447th Air Expeditionary Group's fire department and safety office as well as Iraqi

  • USAFE Band plays six concerts in Poland

    Forty-one Air Force musicians from the U.S. Air Forces in Europe Band played six concerts Oct. 20 to 25 in Poland to celebrate and commemorate 90 years of Polish-American cooperation. The concert series supported the USAFE international outreach program. A lot of effort and planning went into moving

  • Misawa officials save energy with a flip of the switch

     Last year, Misawa officials spent approximately $85,000 on the energy bill for airfield lights. With a simple flip of a switch, energy planners hope to cut that bill by two-thirds. In early October, representatives in the 35th Operations Support Squadron airfield management office coordinated with

  • Cope India dubbed a success

    U.S. and Indian air force officials are pleased with the positive results of all of the joint-training operations executed here during Cope India, Oct. 19 to 23. Cope India is a United States and India airlift exercise that provides training for humanitarian assistance and disaster relief

  • Teamwork vital to promoting Air Force awareness

    The Air Force is all about teamwork. It's in recruiting brochures and Air Force commercials. No matter how big or small the mission, teamwork is a way of life. For Tech. Sgt. Rick Jones, NCO in charge of the Air Force NASCAR program, teamwork is vital in promoting Air Force awareness to millions of

  • Kirkuk ceremony marks transfer of navigational aids to Iraqi air force

    A ceremony held at Kirkuk Air Base in Iraq Oct. 26 demonstrated the emerging independence of the Iraqi Air Force. The ceremony marked the official turnover of a suite of navigational aids provided by the Electronic Systems Center, headquartered here, through a first-of-its-kind foreign military

  • Spangdahlem Airmen reach out to Romanian community

    Members of the 52nd Fighter Wing from Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, deployed to Campia Turzii in late October and donated their time and money to help renovate a children's community center dedicated to helping local children with their academic studies. The deployed Airmen provided aesthetic

  • U.S., Chilean airmen visit school children

    U.S. and Chilean air force airmen visited an elementary school during Exercise Salitre Oct. 27 in Alto Hospicia, Chile.Airmen from the two nations took time from the multinational exercise focused on interoperability between Chile, the United States, Argentina, Brazil, and France to visit the

  • Band of the Pacific-Hawaii participates in Red Ribbon Week

    One Band of the Pacific-Hawaii NCO here led a drive to use music to help spread the drug-free message of Red Ribbon Week by performing in concerts for local elementary schools in late October. Having three school-age children of his own created a desire in Tech. Sgt. Richard Vasquez, a Band of the

  • Airmen support Army's airlift needs

    American Airmen on C-17 Globemaster III and C-130 Hercules aircraft are contributing directly to support joint and coalition forces on the front lines of both operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom. "The Air Force airdrops are providing needed support to Soldiers in the field; getting people

  • Oct. 22 airpower summary: Predators provide overwatch

    Coalition airpower integrated with ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force troops in Afghanistan during operations Oct. 22, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here.In Afghanistan, Air Force F-16C Fighting Falcons flew armed reconnaissance in the

  • Oct. 21 airpower summary: B-1Bs provide armed overwatch

    Coalition airpower integrated with ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force troops in Afghanistan during operations Oct. 21 according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here.In Afghanistan, Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt IIs flew armed overwatch in the Konduz

  • Tanker aircrews support exercise in Chile

    Airmen aboard two Arizona Air National Guard KC-135 Stratotankers are flying daily refueling sorties above Chile to support a multinational force of fighters during Exercise Salitre II. The Airmen from the 161st Air Refueling Wing in Phoenix are participating in the Chilean-led exercise that runs

  • Oct. 20 airpower summary: F-16s fly close-air support

    Coalition airpower integrated with ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force troops in Afghanistan during operations Oct. 20, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here.In Afghanistan, Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt IIs flew armed overwatch in the

  • Oct. 23 airpower summary: F-16s escort convoy in Afghanistan

    Coalition airpower integrated with ground forces in Iraq and the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan during operations Oct. 23, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here. In Afghanistan, Air Force F-16C Fighting Falcon aircraft flew armed overwatch in

  • Oct. 19 airpower summary: Tankers support fighter missions

    Coalition airpower integrated with ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force troops in Afghanistan during operations Oct. 19, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here. In Afghanistan, Air Force F-15E Strike Eagles flew armed overwatch in the Asmar

  • Airmen patrol outside to protect inside

    For some Airmen, its keep your friends close and your enemies as far away from your base as possible. Every day, the 532nd Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron's force protection patrols travel outside of Joint Base Balad to provide a security presence that aims to deter anyone who would do harm

  • MacDill tankers keep mission airborne at Red Flag

    Members of the 91st Air Refueling Squadron from MacDill Air Force Base, Fla., are doing their part to ensure participants in Exercise Red Flag 10-1 stay in the air Oct. 19 through 30 here. Aircrews in KC-135 Stratotankers will fly multiple sorties per day and push more than 1.4 million pounds of

  • Whiteman Air Force Base gains 2 units

    Air Force leaders continue to reinvigorate the nuclear enterprise, adding two new Air Force Materiel Command units to the Whiteman community with a ceremony Oct. 25 at Whiteman AFB, Mo. The 498th Munitions Maintenance Group relocates from Kirtland AFB to Whiteman AFB, along with its new subordinate

  • Mountain Roundup acts as final stage for German air force training

    The German air force is here training with the U.S. Air Force, Navy and Marines through the end of October during the annual Mountain Roundup exercise. "Mountain Roundup is an annual exercise that we have here hosting the German air force mission employment phase of their fighter weapons school, or

  • Students learn to survive in 'Tropics'

    More than 500 miles away from Fairchild Air Force Base and just miles from the Pacific coast lies a tropical rainforest in the Olympic National Forest. The moisture in the air permeates your clothes and gear, and as you trek through the rain and mud it's almost as if it seeps through the skin to the

  • The weapons of warfare adapt with the age of Airmen

    Airmen are using off-the-shelf commercial gaming equipment on the battlefield, and according to one Airman operating at a base still littered with Soviet-era landmines, they're a great fit. When Senior Airman James Dobrynski, a St. Louis native, straps on his individual body armor, fire-resistant

  • Air Force officials go green, renew vehicle fleet at wing in Southwest Asia

    Air Force officials from the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing here became the first wing under U.S. Air Force Central to move to a greener vehicle fleet Oct. 26. When Maj. Michael Horsey, the 380th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron, handed the keys of a new staff vehicle to Brig. Gen. Bryan J.

  • Navigation aids keep F-15s on course

    Two Airmen from the 23rd Special Tactics Squadron at Hurlburt Field, Fla., are keeping F-15 Eagles on course using portable Tactical Navigation Systems, or TACAN, during a Chilean-led multinational exercise in Antofagasta and Iquique, Chile. The portable TACAN is usually used by combat controllers

  • Air Force future bright with adaptable, connected Airmen

    The U.S. Air Forces Central command chief has a good perspective on the lives of the Airmen serving in support of operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom after more than 21 months on the job. A younger generation of Airmen is adapting to an ever-changing operating environment, gaining

  • American servicemembers in Afghanistan break ground for new high school

    Members of the Air Force-led Zabul Provincial Reconstruction Team along with senior Afghan government officials and community leaders, celebrated the ground-breaking of a new high school for girls during a ceremony here Oct. 22. The school will be the first of its kind in the town of Shajoy, which

  • Top enlisted Airman visits Ellsworth Airmen

    The 16th chief master sergeant of the Air Force visited Ellsworth Air Force Base Oct. 21 and 22 to tour the installation and speak with Ellsworth members about education, deployments, fitness and family support. "We are a nation at war," Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James A. Roy said during an

  • Battlefield Airmen considered a weapon system

    The capabilities of battlefield Airmen are considered just as lethal as any advanced weapons system. For that reason, tactical air control party personnel, pararescuemen, security forces personnel and special operations weathermen have been included in the annual Weapons and Tactics Conference

  • Little Rock Airmen fuel up to save environment, money

    Airmen from the 19th Logistics Readiness Squadron's Fuels Management Flight here have been selected to test two types of aviation fuel in an effort to save money and the environment. The first is the commercial grade Jet A. This fuel is cheaper and more common throughout the aviation industry; it's

  • Servicemembers hammer out, nail down construction in Iraq

    Military contracting officials deployed to Baghdad work to rebuild the economy in Iraq by hiring local contractors to build and remodel facilities throughout the International Zone. Airmen, Soldiers and Sailors have been hands-on with several structure projects, including the construction of an

  • Air Force Week in Photos

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

  • Photo essay: B-1s at Ellsworth AFB

    A B-1B Lancer and aircrew here prepare for a training mission Oct. 15, 2009. The flight crew consists of the pilot, co-pilot, defensive systems operator and offensive systems operator. View the slideshow.

  • Globemaster conducts first mission for Cope India

    A C-17 Globemaster III crew conducted the first ever combined airdrop mission with Indian air force personnel here as part of exercise Cope India. The 535th Airlift Squadron from Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii, conducted a high-altitude low-opening mission with four U.S. Air Force Airmen and Soldiers

  • Airmen integrate into Chilean CAOC for SALITRE

    Air Forces Southern Airmen are integrating themselves into a Chilean combined air operations center for SALITRE, a Chilean air force-led coalition exercise Oct. 17 to Nov. 2 in Antofagasta and Iquique, Chile. The effort can be challenging, considering France, Brazil, Chile, Argentina and the United

  • 15 units, 3 countries converge on Nellis for Red Flag

    Nearly 1,300 servicemembers, more than 80 aircraft and 15 units from three countries converged on Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., for the start of Red Flag 10-1 Oct. 19. American, Norwegian and Dutch airmen and soldiers comprise the allied team in the exercise. "The exercise is a great opportunity for

  • McChord C-17 lands at newly upgraded airstrip in Wyoming

    A C-17 Globemaster III from McChord Air Force Base, Wash., approached the 5,500-foot-long stretch of paved runway, landed, then rolled to a stop. That's not much space on which to land a heavily loaded, half-million pound cargo plane, but officials here say it's the perfect runway for C-17 pilots to

  • Exercise Cope India begins

    More than 400 airmen from the United States and India began the fourth installment of exercise Cope India, a bilateral humanitarian assistance disaster relief exercise, here Oct. 19. The exercise will exchange airlift, air land, and tactical airdrop delivery techniques using three C-130H Hercules,

  • Weapons, tactics conference puts warfighters' needs in focus

    Nearly 1,200 Air Force warfighters are meeting here in late October to decide on what's needed to succeed in future battles and missions. This year's Air Guard and Reserve Weapons and Tactics Conference is the biggest ever, said Col. Jon Mott, the Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve Command

  • Stop loss Airmen eligible for compensation

    Current and former Airmen who were involuntarily held on active duty beyond an approved separation or retirement date as a direct result of stop loss between Sept. 11, 2001, and Sept. 30, 2009, may be eligible for a Retroactive Stop Loss Special Pay compensation of $500 for each month they were

  • Team exchanges ideas with Chilean air force

    Members of 12th Air Force and the Texas Air National Guard completed four days of subject matter exchanges in Santiago, Chile, in late October with Chilean air force members on topics such as crisis management, media relations and air operations center processes and procedures. The exchange was a

  • International Officer School honors distinguished alumni

    Air Force officials here honored eight former international Air University students as they were added to the Air University Honor Roll Oct. 8 here. Each honoree is designated by a bronze plate engraved with the inductee's name, rank, country, position and AU schools attended, and the plates line

  • Photo essay: 'Friendship drop' over Egypt

    A multi-national group of paratroopers conducted a "friendship jump"  near Cairo Oct. 15, 2009, during Exercise Bright Star. Bright Star is a joint international military airdrop exercise which strengthens and enhances the cohesiveness of each country's participating forces. This year's participants

  • 21 Air Force food service professionals win culinary honors

    Twenty-one Air Force food service professionals were honored at the 2009 Hennessy Travelers Association Educational Foundation Armed Forces Forum for Culinary Excellence Oct. 4 to 10. The forum at Culinary Institute of America Greystone Campus in Napa Valley, Calif., recognized a total of 25 members

  • AFSOUTH Airmen participate in Exercise SALITRE II

    More than 190 Air Forces Southern Airmen are representing the United States during Exercise SALITRE II, a Chilean air force-led coalition exercise which began Oct. 17 and ends Nov. 2, in Antofagasta and Iquique, Chile. SALITRE is a coalition air exercise, including search and rescue, aerial

  • Advanced Composite Cargo Aircraft gets X-plane designation

    Air Force officials have approved X-55A as the new designation for the Advanced Composite Cargo Aircraft. The X-55A is a technology demonstrator for the design and manufacturing of future aircraft using advanced composite materials. The X-55A is a modified Dornier 328J aircraft with the fuselage aft

  • Aeromedical staging facility staff to reach major milestone in warrior care

    Members of the 86th Contingency Aeromedical Staging Facility here will soon be reaching a new milestone since opening its doors and receiving its first patient six years ago. Unit members provide critical care to wounded warriors, and are scheduled to complete its 100,000th patient movement sometime

  • Airman helps Army get connected

    Shoot, move and communicate is a Soldiers motto on the battlefield, but without stable Internet connection, communication would not be possible. Staff Sgt. Jeremy Emond at Combat Outpost McClain does his part in aiding Soldiers communicate by providing Internet access. "Here I'm supporting the

  • Cooperation Team-One exchanges ideas with Chilean air force members

    Members of 12th Air Force (Air Forces Southern) and the Texas Air National Guard completed four days of subject matter exchanges in Santiago, Chile, with members of the Fuerza Aerea Chile, or FACh, on topics such as crisis management, media relations and Air Operations Center processes and

  • New PT rules will not take away from unit fitness

    Everyone in the Air Force is required to maintain fitness. In fact, in January 2010 the new physical fitness testing criteria will take effect, requiring Airmen to meet minimum requirements in each category or fail the test. Now, Air Force officials are restructuring the requirement for commanders

  • General Bowlds discusses innovative comm ideas, calls for more

    Rapid technology evolution, asymmetric threats, constrained defense budgets and a host of other dynamics pose vexing communication challenges, Lt. Gen. Ted Bowlds told more than 1,200 conference attendees at a luncheon here Oct. 19. But "ideas for meeting those challenges abound," the Air Force

  • Keating passes PaCom torch to Willard

     Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates and Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, presided over a change-of-command ceremony here Oct. 19 as Navy Adm. Timothy J. Keating passed the U.S. Pacific Command helm to Navy Adm. Robert F. Willard. Admiral Willard assumed command of the

  • German fliers achieve 55,555 flight hours at Holloman

    With the landing of a specially painted Tornado aircraft, airmen at the German air force Flying Training Center here completed 55,555 Tornado flight hours Oct. 13, and a reception commemorating the accomplishment followed. German air force members shared the momentous occasion with Airmen from the