NATO Air Policing operations

U.S. Air Force News

  • 563d RQG Airmen rescue injured Mexican sailors

    Airmen from Davis-Monthan Air Force Base’s 563rd Rescue Group traveled more than 1700 miles to save two critically injured Mexican fishermen onboard the Mazatun fishing vessel, July 10.

  • RAF Lakenheath breaks ground on future F-35 infrastructure

    Through the partnership with the DIO, as well as Kier and VolkerFitzpatrick construction groups, the installation will be ready to welcome the first F-35A Lightning II aircraft in late 2021. The infrastructure projects will include a flight simulator facility, a maintenance unit, new hangars and

  • Air advisors train with Niger Armed Forces

    Air advisors assigned to the 409th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron conducted training with the Nigerien Armed Forces, also known as Forces Armées Nigeriennes, on how to clear buildings at Niger Air Base 201, July 10.The training was designed to help the FAN improve their efficiency and

  • Wright-Patterson AFB opens cyber defense facility

    One of the Air Force’s ongoing challenges is to create processes, infrastructure and capabilities to counter threats to its weapon systems. To address this, organizations are looking at creative ways to forge partnerships and alliances to advance the cyber resiliency of weapon systems by protecting

  • 57th Rescue Squadron stays rapidly ready

    The 57th Rescue Squadron participates in jump training at least once a quarter, over both land and sea, to keep their skills and knowledge sharp in case they are ever needed in an emergency. The training not only benefits the pararescuemen, but requires harmonization with the squadron’s support

  • Mountain Home AFB hosts largest off-station F-35A operation to date

    The squadron, normally stationed at Hill AFB, Utah, is functioning as a detachment with about 300 Airmen in operations, support and maintenance. They arrived at Mountain Home AFB with 17 jets and will build up to 24 as they continue to receive and process new aircraft being delivered from the

  • Airmen cultivate leadership qualities through Ranger Assessment Course

    Twenty-three Airmen from across the Air Force recently converged on a training camp for a 3-week Ranger Assessment Course near Schofield Barracks, Oahu, Hawaii. The purpose of the 19-day course is to prepare, assess and evaluate Air Force candidates for Army Ranger School at Fort Benning, Georgia.

  • Rescue helicopter pilots showcase VR capability to ACC leadership

    The trainer allows four people to don VR headgear and simultaneously enter a server to fly a virtual HH-60G Pave Hawk combat search and rescue helicopter in simulated training missions. The controls are the same equipment the helicopter uses to add further realism to the VR environment.

  • Overnight radar replacements for NEXRAD

    The NEXT RADAR, or NEXTRAD replacement, completed at Cannon AFB in February in one night, is part of an ongoing effort there and 24 other Air Force installations worldwide. The Air Force’s 25-site replacement program is part of a three-agency U.S. government effort to standardize the 180 radars that

  • First BMT trainees experience M-4 training, qualification

    Basic Military Training trainees were the first to experience M-4 carbine weapons familiarization course at the range, which closed in November 2018, due to improper rainwater drainage. Since then the range has undergone refurbishing efforts to divert water runoff.

  • Edwards AFB sends earthquake response to nearby base

    According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the first earthquake struck at 10:33 a.m. July 4 with a 6.4 magnitude and is now considered a foreshock. A second quake shook the area the following day at 8:20 p.m. with a stronger 7.1 magnitude. Estimated economic losses of what the USGS now calls the

  • Exercise Pac Angel 19-1 wraps up in Bangladesh

    Throughout that time, the U.S. and partner nations teamed up to provide medical care and engineering assistance as well as conduct subject matter expert exchanges with the Bangladesh Air Force and civil organizations, such as the Red Crescent and Ministry of Health.

  • LEGACY youth program builds interest in STEM careers

    The Leadership Experience Growing Apprenticeships Committed to Youth, or LEGACY, program is an Air Force program aimed at building interest in science, technology, engineering and math through summer craftsman camps and paid summer apprenticeships while showing how STEM applies to the world around

  • U.S., Indonesian air forces wrap up Cope West ‘19

    Cope West is designed to advance interoperability and build upon already-established partnerships between U.S. military forces and Indonesian air forces, with the end goal of enhancing both sides’ combat capabilities and unit readiness.

  • Air Force gathers innovators for Tyndall AFB rebuild

    To that end, members of the Tyndall Program Management Office, along with Air Force experts, industry and community leaders participated in an AFWERX-sponsored workshop June 25-26 in Las Vegas to rebuild the installation as a “base of the future.”

  • Gunfighters use 1950s tech on F-35 for a huge win

    Airmen from the 366th Logistics Readiness Squadron, also known as Gunfighters, are the first in the Air Force to perform hot-pit refueling on F-35 Lightning II’s with a Type 1 hydrant system from the 1950s and hose cart from the 1970s.

  • First virtual reality training arrives at Keesler AFB

    The 334th Training Squadron incorporated the first virtual reality training for airfield management students in the Air Force at Keesler Air Force Base, June 28, so they can get more of a “hands-on” learning experience.

  • Slife takes command of AFSOC

    At a ceremony at Hurlburt Field, Florida, June 28, Lt. Gen. Jim Slife took command of Air Force Special Operations Command. Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David L. Goldfein, presided over the ceremony where Slife took over for Lt. Gen. Brad Webb, who will go on to serve as the commander of Air

  • 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.

  • Multinational Heavy Airlift Wing celebrates 10th anniversary

    The SAC program is an initial 30-year commitment and consists of NATO members Hungary, Bulgaria, Estonia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Romania, Slovenia and the U.S. and Partnership for Peace nations Finland and Sweden.

  • Team Offutt restores lighthouse in the sky

    The TACAN system was only two years old when the transponder cabinet in which it is housed was damaged by flood waters March. While the outer shell remained intact, the inside components were heavily impaired.

  • AFIT students inform Pentagon energy initiative as part of new course

    Initiated and funded by Air Force Operational Energy, the course covers topics such as aircraft physics, aircraft energy requirements including propulsion & mission systems and the technologies used to meet those requirements. Future technologies are also considered, along with operational factors

  • Air Force announces Junior ROTC instructors of the year

    The award program recognizes AFJROTC instructors’ “diligent work and outstanding achievement” in the development of cadets and encourages excellence through recognition of superior accomplishment. In addition to national recognition for their educational performance and award presentation from the

  • Leadership, teamwork, community service in abundance at MYOY Summit

    Through a partnership with the Boys and Girls Clubs of America, Air Force Youth Programs, managed by the Air Force Services Center, provide a variety of installation programs that help teens build on skills necessary to be resilient today and successful tomorrow.

  • Air Force Academy teams up with Test Pilot School in new candidacy program

    Test Pilot School is a highly competitive, 48-week educational opportunity for aviators, combat systems officers, remotely piloted aircraft pilots and engineers. Graduates of the course receive a Master of Science in flight test engineering and go on to test a variety of aerospace weapon systems for

  • Shaw AFB Airmen, USCG hone joint water rescue skills

    Teaming up with U.S. Coast Guardsmen from Tybee Island Coast Guard Station, Georgia, the Shaw AFB SERE specialists traveled 25 nautical miles offshore to simulate downed pilot search and recovery efforts.

  • Red Flag-Alaska 19-2: Indo-Pacific ‘one team’ mentality

    Pilots, maintainers, joint terminal attack controllers and support personnel from the South Korea Air Force, the Japan Air Self-Defense Force and the Royal Thai Air Force train alongside their U.S. and British counterparts during Red Flag-Alaska 19-2 at Eielson Air Force Base and Joint Base

  • 815th Airlift Squadron delivers during Swift Response '19

    For exercise Swift Response '19, military members across two continents work as a team to conduct training to increase the participating nations’ readiness, capabilities and capacity to conduct full-spectrum military operations. They use combined training which fosters trust, increases

  • Weapons School: Multi-domain integration since 1996

    A leader in tactics, techniques and procedures development, the USAFWS has focused on integrating combat capabilities across domains since 1996 when the school’s Space Division was established. The division structure was dissolved in 2003 but integrating space operations as part of the USAFWS

  • European partnership flight visits Spangdahlem AB

    The visit, which happened during an African-European Partnership Flight program at Ramstein AB, was a multilateral, military-to-military engagement and security cooperation event focused on sharing best practices.

  • Around the Air Force: Resident Bill of Rights / DoD Warrior Games / CCAF

    On today's look around the Air Force, the Air Force is looking for feedback on a new Housing Resident Bill of Rights draft, the DOD Warrior Games are starting this Friday, and the Community College of the Air Force will not accept applications for the professional manager certification program after

  • AMC Phoenix Spark Tank establishes new submission guidance

    Airmen who wish to submit ideas to Phoenix Spark Tank can do so through the U.S. Air Force Ideation Platform website, which not only facilitates idea submission, but also serves as a way to view, vote and provide inputs for submissions Airmen would like to see implemented by AMC and the Air Force.

  • GI Bill Transfer

    Last year new guidance was announced on transferring GI Bill benefits. The changes go into effect July 12th.

  • 167th AW, Argos, USDA continue black vulture research

    Since then, 164 black vultures have been fitted with red tags bearing an alphanumeric code and one black vulture now carries a telemetry device on its back, so the bird’s movements can be tracked and studied.

  • Travis AFB completes joint inspection with FEMA, ensures readiness

    Urban search and rescue is considered a "multi-hazard" discipline, as it may be needed for a variety of emergencies or disasters, including earthquakes, hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, dam failures, technological accidents, terrorist activities and hazardous materials releases.

  • Inspector General keeps ADAB ready and compliant

    The IG office is open to all Airmen and federal employees to hear complaints of wrong doings; they also provide an independent look during exercises and inspections, giving them the ability to identify undetected non-compliance and possible risks.

  • HQ ARPC hosts 2019 Joint IRR Conference

    The Joint IRR Conference included representatives from the Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marines and Navy, educating one another on their service-specific IRR programs. While each service program has the same Office of the Secretary of Defense policies driving them, the consensus was that the

  • Providing access to space through innovation

    The U.S. Air Force and Space Command are powered by innovation. Because of this, Vandenberg Air Force Base is continually making improvements to base facilities, equipment and the way Airmen and mission partners do their job in order to complete the space mission.

  • AFRL XQ-58A UAV completes second successful flight

    The Air Force Research Laboratory developed a low-cost unmanned air vehicle together with Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. The joint effort falls within AFRL’s Low Cost Attritable Aircraft Technology portfolio, which has the goal to break the escalating cost trajectory of tactically

  • US builds intermilitary relationship with RSAF

    Royal Saudi Air Force F-15C Eagles fly in formation with U.S. Air Force F-15Cs in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, June 2, 2019. The flight was conducted as part of a larger effort to continue building military-to-military relationships and interoperability.

  • 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.

  • SERE specialists showcase training for recruiters

    “Today you experienced a half day’s worth of what ECAC students are exposed to,” said Senior Master Sgt. Brian Kemmer, ECAC superintendent. “It is our job as SERE specialists to ensure the tactics, techniques and procedures we teach gives anyone who goes through our course the necessary skills and

  • Interagency exercise paves way for progressive training

    The training simulated a hostile’s attempt to capture a nuclear asset. Security forces Airmen, who arrived by both Humvee and helicopter, began to combat the threat and worked their way toward retaking control of the launch facility. After neutralizing the threat, recapturing and securing the launch

  • Wills takes command of 19th Air Force overseeing flying training

    With his family, friends and Airmen from across the 19th Air Force in attendance, Wills received the guidon for the NAF that oversees flying training across Air Education and Training Command from Lt. Gen. Steve Kwast, commander of AETC, who officiated the ceremony.

  • 2019 Eifel Krabben IED Rodeo

    The exercise, called the 2019 Eifel Krabben IED Rodeo, helped members learn more about how to locate explosive devices and the steps to take to safely and effectively disarm them.

  • Healthy foods add spice to life

    The class, for 16 NAF employees from across the Air Force, is designed to educate attendees on the benefits of healthy ingredients like plants and legumes, proper spicing and appropriate healthy cooking techniques.

  • AMLO brings expertise to fight in Syria

    An AMLO from the 621st MSOS, aligned with the 82nd Airborne Division, recently found himself in Syria working to provide expertise in multiple areas and maintain a runway under harsh conditions.

  • Keesler Fire Department trains to maintain readiness

    The fire department worked in conjunction with the Gulfport Combat Readiness Training Center Fire Department, Stennis Airport Fire Department and the U.S. Naval Air Station Pensacola Gulf Coast Fire Rescue to further increase personnel readiness, lethality and joint operation efficiency.

  • 372nd TRS, Det 11: small unit, big global impact

    Their main focus is to deliver major command-directed and unit-requested training throughout the Air Force aircraft maintenance field focusing on advanced skills and additional hands-on experience.

  • Civil engineer Airmen participate in IRT project

    The mission for the two-week period was to provide a concrete slab for a new science, technology, engineering and math lodge facility, clear and grade the surrounding area and begin building walls, if time allowed.

  • 40th HS, local forces rescue man

    The 40th Helicopter Squadron received the request June 3 around 10 p.m. to assist the Cascade County Sheriff’s Department in rescuing the man after he fell from a steep cliff and was holding on to a tree root approximately 250 feet from the ground.

  • Thunderbirds announce 2020 officer selections

    The commander of Air Combat Command, Gen. Mike Holmes, has officially selected the officers who will be joining the United States Air Force Thunderbirds for the 2020 demonstration season.

  • Flight equipment redesigned to better fit female aviators

    Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia, held a Female Fitment Event, June 4, where Air Force and Navy female aviators gathered to have their measurements taken, which will be used to design new prototypes for female flight equipment.

  • Agile BOLT maintainers support F-35 deployment

    These Blended Operational Lightning Technician or BOLT maintainers are currently deployed alongside the 421st Fighter Squadron during a Theater Security Package to Europe and they’ve sent the first 388th Fighter Wing maintainer to ever be qualified in six different aspects of F-35 maintenance.

  • Yesterday’s Air Force: WWII Heavy Bombardment

    One of the costliest campaigns of World War II was the aerial bombing of the Axis powers in Europe. The American B-17 and B-24 bombers were the backbone of the Allied bombing campaign over Nazi occupied Europe.

  • Technology, AFWERX, helping SF Academy graduates become more lethal, ready

    Arguably the most critical skills a Defender must possess – how and when to employ the use of force – the 343rd Training Squadron schoolhouse recently acquired six Multiple Interactive Learning Objectives simulators or MILO, as well as a VR-based training system facilitated through an AFWERX

  • First Belize air, land, sea mobile training team

    The 571st MSAS mobile training team’s goal was to enact, change and build capabilities for each of the three Belizean forces, while building partner nation relationships. The team accomplished this by conducting various training courses, including an aircrew flying hour program, aircraft scheduling

  • Reserve Airmen hunt hurricanes

    This specialized unit of Reserve Airmen is made up of a five-person crew consisting of a pilot, co-pilot, navigator, aerial reconnaissance weather officer and loadmaster who is also the dropsonde operator.

  • Japanese, US teachers boost bilateral future

    Kadena Air Base middle school staff shared activity-driven English lessons to Okinawa elementary teachers in support of the foreign language initiative at the Ryukyu Middle School, or RMS, May 24.

  • Exercise Northern Edge 2019 comes to a close

    The fully integrated, large-scale exercise provided realistic and comprehensive joint training opportunities in and around Alaskan land and airspace, as well as in and above the Gulf of Alaska. NE19 participants trained on defensive counter-air, close-air support and air interdiction of maritime

  • US, UAE fly to build interoperability

    The U.S Air Force and the United Arab Emirates Air Force join together for a partnering flight in the U.S. Central Command's area of responsibility. This flight was conducted to build military-to-military relationships and interoperability with the UAE.