NATO Air Policing operations

U.S. Air Force News

  • Firefighter training goes virtual

    Firefighters train weekly to maintain readiness, so when the call comes to put their lives at risk for the people they serve, they are prepared.Whether in training or on a live fire, they are susceptible to various carcinogenic toxins - until now.

  • AFPC hosts Squadron Commander Course

    The Air Force’s Personnel Center hosted its second squadron commander course March 18-22.After a six-year hiatus, the course was reinstituted in January and redesigned to provide new and sitting squadron commanders a first-hand opportunity to learn about key issues and processes about AFPC’s key

  • AFSPC hosts Space Futures Workshop

    The Air Force Space Command Space Futures Workshop was held at the U.S. Air Force Academy, March 19-21, giving experts the chance to collaborate and predict what space will look like in the next 20-40 years.

  • Around the Air Force: SECAF visits Offutt AFB / Spark Tank 19

    On this look Around the Air Force, Secretary of the Air Force Heather Wilson visits Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska, to survey flood damage and Lt. Col. Dave Harden talks about how Spark Tank has grown and become more effective. Hosted by Staff Sgt. Braden Anderson.

  • Two nations, one mission: US TACP, Thai CCT join forces

    The U.S. tactical air control party Airmen lower tactical vests over their heads with practiced confidence, quietly relaying a composure born of constant training. They strap their helmets on and prepare for the first strike of the day.

  • Scobee highlights Air Force Reserve success on Capitol Hill

    Lt. Gen. Richard W. Scobee, chief of Air Force Reserve and Air Force Reserve Command commander, testified on the status of the Reserve and the fiscal year 2020 budget request before the U.S. House Appropriations Committee’s defense subcommittee, March 26, on Capitol Hill. Counterparts from the Army,

  • Airman trains for Alpha Warrior competition

    Parenting three preschoolers, supporting a spouse in pilot training, teaching crossfit classes and serving as an executive officer for a flying training squadron is a lot to manage for one person. But Capt. Jennifer Trewett of the 43rd Flying Training Squadron is still able to squeeze in time to

  • Air Commando pursues dream of flying on AFSOC airframes

    As a child, she sat in front of the TV watching the “Top Gun” movie over and over again and listening to Tom Cruise proclaim, “I feel the need – the need for speed!” Watching the aircraft soar across the screen made it clear to her that she wanted to fly when she grew up.

  • HNCO: Handling coordination with host nation

    Through deployments and temporary duties, part of being in the military involves traveling to foreign countries. The 380th Air Expeditionary Wing Host Nation Coordination Office at Al Dhafra Air Base, United Arab Emirates, provides the link between the Defense Department and the United Arab

  • Air Force Tech Report: Seeing the future in 20/20

    Sharp eyesight is key to an Airman’s readiness to fly, fight and win. Using state of the art medical technology, the War Fighter Eye Center at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, ensures readiness, enhancing healthy vision and offering cutting edge techniques for better eyesight.

  • 2nd annual C-130J fly-in grows Herc Nation

    Representatives from eight C-130J Super Hercules units came together to train and enhance mobility partnerships across the C-130J enterprise during the second annual fly-in at Little Rock Air Force Base, March 9-16.

  • Securing the High Ground with Partners

    U.S. Air Forces Central Command published its January Airpower Summary March 7. The year 2019 began with airpower supporting joint coalition and partner forces fighting violent extremist groups in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility.

  • IFF: Where fighter pilots begin their careers

    Before pilots step into fighter aircraft, they must go through Introduction to Fighter Fundamentals.IFF is an eight-week course designed to transform newly graduated pilots selected to fly fighters into fighter wingmen. The 49th Fighter Training Squadron teaches pilots the discipline, attitude and

  • International environment, innovation to headline 21st-century pilot training

    The 77th meeting of the Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training Steering Committee, which is the governing body of the world’s only internationally manned and operated pilot training program, was held at Sheppard Air Force Base, March 11-15, to give representatives from partner nations an opportunity to

  • ELRS provides the magic behind movements

    There is a trio of Airmen working behind the scenes to ensure every piece of cargo and every member of Al Dhafra Air Base, has transportation in and out of the area of responsibility.The 380th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron logistics planners are responsible for the overall reception,

  • CSAF celebrates life of Parker Greene

    It’s a rare quiet morning on Moody Air Force Base. A crowd begins to amass in a hangar with their heads held high and smiling as they greet one another, all the while mourning the loss of the most influential civic leader and advocate Moody AFB, and many argue the Air Force, has ever had.

  • U.S. Air Force B-52s deploy to Europe

    A Bomber Task Force deployment of B-52 Stratofortress aircraft, Airmen and support equipment from the 2nd Bomb Wing, Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana, have arrived in the U.S. European Command area of operations for a deployment to conduct theater integration and flying training.

  • Quality Assurance: making sure it’s done right

    Going the extra step to ensure things are done the right way is what the Air Force is about. This precaution is pertinent to Airmen’s safety and the Air Force’s mission.The 380th Expeditionary Maintenance Group Quality Assurance team is responsible for serving as the primary technical advisory

  • AMC extends Osprey capabilities

    CV-22 Osprey aircraft, assigned to the 20th Special Operations Squadron, performed Tactical Air-Refueling missions with a KC-10 Extender aircraft March 7-11, over the Southwest region of the U.S.

  • PTN innovations move to undergraduate pilot training

    Beginning May 31, 2019, flying training wings across Air Education and Training Command will formally begin integrating innovations from Pilot Training Next into the undergraduate pilot training curriculum, 19th Air Force officials announced at the PTN Technology Expo held March 12-13.

  • Optometry leads KC-46 laser program

    With recent advances in technology and the addition of a laser system in the KC-46A Pegasus, there are precautions that the Air Force must take in order to keep Airmen safe.

  • 4th Special Operations Squadron receives first AC-130J Ghostrider

    The 4th Special Operations Squadron at Hurlburt Field, is now home to Air Force Special Operations Command’s newest aircraft – the Block 30 AC-130J Ghostrider gunship.Similar to the Block 20 AC-130Js flown by the 73rd Special Operations Squadron, the Block 30 upgrade marks a major improvement in

  • Around the Air Force: Air Warfare Symposium

    On this look Around the Air Force, Secretary of the Air Force Heather Wilson and businessman Mark Cuban speak to Airmen at the 2019 Air Warfare Symposium in Orlando, Florida. Hosted by Tech. Sgt. Robbie Arp.

  • Army names 362nd TRS instructor best of quarter

    Tech. Sgt. Casey Andersen, 362nd Training Squadron Detachment 1 UH-60 helicopter maintenance course instructor, at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia was recently recognized as Distinguished Instructor of the Quarter for the Army’s 128th Aviation Brigade, the best out of more than 500 instructors.

  • 2018 Air Force Safety Awards announced

    Maj. Gen. John T. Rauch Jr., Air Force chief of safety, recently announced the recipients of the five Secretary of the Air Force and Chief of Staff Safety Awards, as well as the Chief of Safety Awards for 2018.

  • 40th HS saves local man

    An Air Force helicopter crew located and rescued a local man March 1 just south of Great Falls, concluding the search by ground and air search and rescue groups.

  • PACAF hosts Philippine airmen, strengthens relations

    Philippine Air Force service members visited Pacific Air Forces Headquarters for Airman-to-Airman, or A2A, talks to increase interoperability and enhance their relationship Feb. 24-27, at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam.

  • Innovation Rodeo moves ideas closer to reality

    Three innovative ideas to support worldwide warfighter success are one step closer to reality today thanks to the first Air Force Innovation Rodeo, $650,000 in total seed money and a partnership with AFWERX and tech accelerator companies.

  • Perfecting human weapon system with healthy fueling

    The Air Force Services Activity, through its comprehensive healthy food initiative continues zeroing in on the human weapons system – our nation’s Airmen – and providing them “with the right nutrition to increase lethality; ensuring a more ready force to meet mission requirements,” said Bill

  • F-35A maintainers, special ops team up for forward refueling

    For the first time, Airmen from the 388th Fighter Wing at Hill Air Force Base, Utah and Airmen from the 26th Special Tactics Squadron and the 27th Special Operation Logistics Readiness Squadron at Cannon AFB, trained and carried out a Forward Air Refueling Point operation from the MC-130J Commando

  • Interagency exercise boosts medical readiness

    The 99th Medical Group, Department of Veterans Affairs and Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps took part in Operation Foremost Endeavor, an exercise where injured individuals in a simulated disaster were airlifted to Nellis AFB, Nevada, Feb. 19.

  • Joint training strengthens Air Force, Army collaboration

    -- Airmen and Soldiers practiced Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, and high yield explosives training techniques and procedures Feb. 22, 2019, as part of a joint decontamination training event.The event was the conclusion of a four phase curriculum. Participants from the 379th

  • AFOTEC maintains mission readiness through operational testing

    The Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center, Detachment 4, tests and evaluates new space, cyberspace, missile and missile defense capabilities. Their mission is to test weapons systems in operationally realistic environments. The goal is to inform warfighters of the lessons learned and

  • US, Qatari security forces pioneer bilateral relationship

    Select security forces members from the 379th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron take on an ambassadorship role, pioneering bilateral interoperability with their Qatar Military Police counterparts during “Spartan Patrols” at Al Udeid Air Base.

  • Combat metals: The modern-day blacksmiths

    While there are a lot of precautionary measures in place to prevent bird strikes and other aircraft incidents, they are not 100 percent preventable.When these incidents occur, there’s a small group of Airmen who are called upon to do patchwork to get the aircraft back to base and to fix the damage

  • 380th EMXS AGE shop provides ground power

    The 380th Expeditionary Maintenance Group Aerospace Ground Equipment shop is responsible for 84 different types of support equipment, totaling 313 pieces in all at Al Dhafra Air Base.

  • Joint Air Defense Exercise sharpens skills, strengthens partnerships

    Soldiers, Sailors, and Airmen of U.S. Central Command worked together with regional partners to conduct Joint Air Defense Exercise 19-01, a regularly scheduled three-day training event focused on increasing the readiness of air defense assets in the CENTCOM area of responsibility. The U.S. Air

  • Airmen demonstrate Rapid Global Mobility in Venezuela humanitarian mission

    Airlifting 250 tons of relief supplies to alleviate a humanitarian crisis on the other side of the hemisphere requires layers coordination between multiple military and civilian agencies in a condensed timeframe. That’s what Airmen of the 305th Air Mobility Wing accomplished Feb. 16, delivering more

  • Phase dock keeps F-16s in top shape for Operation Inherent Resolve

    With each strike, coalition partners move a step closer to the defeat of ISIS’ so-called physical caliphate. The 55th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron’s relentless pursuit supporting Operation Inherent Resolve comes with an insatiable maintenance need for the F-16C Fighting Falcons at the 407th Air

  • Army GLO connects ground intent to air action

    Communication between the Air Force, Army, Marine Corps, Navy and Coast Guard is similar to trying to understand a different language because each service uses different lingo and acronyms in their daily operations.

  • Cobra Gold 19: Pilot's best friend

    On a flight line shrouded in a constant haze and tortured by Thailand’s relentless sun, the sounds of jet engines and jungle birds fill the ears of Staff Sgt. Travis Davis, 8th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron crew chief; a best friend to any 35th Fighter Squadron pilot who puts their trust in crew

  • CRW delivers agile mobility expertise during exercise Green Flag Little Rock

    The sound of gunfire echoed across the open field at the Geronimo Landing Zone as Airmen from the 621st Contingency Response Wing based out of Travis Air Force Base, California, responded to a simulated base attack during a training mission in support of Green Flag Little Rock exercise, Feb. 6-17.

  • Davis-Monthan AFB exercise balances flexibility, survivability, lethality

    Landing in an austere location, a small number of Airmen move at a rapid pace to accomplish a very specific mission. With only the supplies needed to survive for a week, they begin to unload food, shelter and equipment. After unloading, they set up a campsite as home base for their operations.

  • Air Force Tech Report: Chem light replacement

    Chemical illumination has been a useful tool for military operations for years in the form of chem lights or glow sticks. However, glow sticks could be a hindrance to carry around. The Air Force Research Lab has exponentially lightened the load to allow chemical illumination in the form of a crayon,

  • Desert Depot: Equipping and supplying the fight

    Within the 380th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron there is a shop that stores and issues mission essential items. From batteries to aircraft parts, the Desert Depot provides them to the warfighters at Al Dhafra Air Base, United Arab Emirates.

  • Columbus AFB instructor pilots connect with Virginia Tech AFROTC cadets

    It’s not everyday cadets are given the opportunity to work closely with U.S. Air Force pilots; however, the Virginia Tech Air Force ROTC Detachment 875 was given the chance when instructor pilots from the 37th and 48th Flying Training Squadrons visited the university Feb. 8-11.

  • Donovan: Readiness, force lethality begins with training

    Under Secretary of the Air Force Matthew P. Donovan, the second highest ranking civilian in the Department of the Air Force, visited Sheppard on Feb. 14, 2019, to see how the Air Force’s largest and most diverse technical and undergraduate pilot training base is employing technology to train today’s

  • B-52s lead joint training across Hawaiian Islands

    Air and ground force elements came together across the Hawaiian Islands this week to jointly participate in close air support (CAS) training with U.S. Air Force B-52H Stratofortress bombers from Andersen Air Force Base, Guam.

  • 374th OG: A breath of fresh air

    With the help of the 374th Operations Group, Yokota Air Base C-130J Super Hercules aircrews are always ready for potential chemical and biological threats.

  • 35th Fighter Squadron launches into Cobra Gold 19

    The 35th Fighter Squadron departed on Feb. 6, and the 35th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron departed on Feb. 7 to participate in Exercise Cobra Gold 19 in a historic redeployment to Korat Royal Thai Air Base, Thailand.

  • EOD Airmen detect, disarm, protect

    The Joint Defense Operations Center calls about a confirmed or suspected explosive ordnance disposal incident. Three Airmen rush out the door, set up their truck and immediately depart for the incident site. They head out with a security element to safely transport them to the location. For them it

  • Red Flag strengthens F-35A maintainers

    After more than two weeks launching F-35A Lightning II sorties at Red Flag 19-1, maintainers with the 388th Fighter Wing are impressed with the jet and the young airmen who help maintain it.

  • Airmen, dignitaries celebrate KC‐46 arrival

    Reserve Airmen assigned to the 730th Air Mobility Training Squadron, dignitaries and Air Force leaders accepted the new KC‐46A Pegasus during a historic arrival celebration Feb. 8 at Altus Air Force Base.

  • 'Trial by Flag' for new F-35A pilots

    F-35A pilots who recently graduated their initial training and are currently deployed to Nellis Air Force Base as part of exercise Red-Flag 19-1. Now they are being battle-tested.

  • CMSAF Wright testifies before Congress on Air Force quality of life

    Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force Kaleth O. Wright told members of Congress at Capitol Hill, Washington, D.C., Feb. 7, that issues such as adequate base housing, reliable child care and other quality of life factors are “inextricably linked” to the service’s readiness.

  • Pilot training moving at the speed of innovation

    The 80th Flying Training Wing is moving at the speed of innovation and is bound to only get faster as visionaries incorporate the latest in mixed realities to boost undergraduate pilot training.

  • Kansas Guard Airman innovates superior training method

    With a high deployment tempo and limited aircraft, finding the aircraft available for boom operators to practice tying down cargo to the floor of the jet was almost always a problem. Master Sgt. Nathan Neidhardt, 190th Operations Group aircrew training noncommissioned officer in charge, solved this

  • Project HeRO improves squadron health habits

    A new Air Force Health and Readiness Optimization program, or HeRO, seeks to partner with squadrons by using data to help Airmen improve health habits that impact readiness.HeRO represents a reboot of Air Force Health Promotion efforts. It is designed to target at-risk squadrons using data and

  • US, Philippine AF concludes bilateral air contingency exchange

    U.S. and Philippine air forces Airmen marked the successful completion of 12 days of bilateral training and increased mutual cooperation during the seventh iteration of Bilateral Air Contingent Exchange-Philippines, or BACE-P, at Cesar Basa Air Base, Feb. 1, 2019.