HomeNews

NATO Air Policing operations

U.S. Air Force News

  • NORAD jets ready to protect Super Bowl skies

    Continental U.S. North American Aerospace Defense Command Region fighter jets, along with interagency partners, have been busy well before Super Bowl Sunday preparing to protect the skies around the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans.Just like the teams in the Super Bowl, the Continental U.S.

  • Recovered debris thought to be wreckage of missing aircraft

    Italian search teams have recovered debris in the Adriatic Sea believed to belong to an F-16 Fighting Falcon that went missing during a nighttime training mission Jan. 28.The fighter jet, assigned to the 31st Fighter Wing, was performing a training mission when the base lost contact with the pilot

  • Search and rescue effort continues for missing aircraft

    U.S. military officials are coordinating search and rescue efforts with Italian military and civilian teams following the loss of communication with an Aviano F-16 Fighting Falcon jet the evening on Jan. 28.The aircraft, assigned to the 31st Fighter Wing, was performing a training mission over the

  • Former 'dirt boy' retires as Air Force's top enlisted Airman

    "Dirt Boy Did Good" would be a great working title for a movie about former Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James A. Roy's 30-year career. His first Air Force job, after he joined in 1982, was in civil engineering as a heavy equipment operator, a "dirt boy." His last, the one he retired from Jan.

  • New runway rubber removal system debuts in Southwest Asia

    The Air Force Civil Engineer Center in conjunction with the Air Force Research Laboratory recently introduced a first-of-its-kind runway rubber removal system for use at remote airfields.The device, which uses a retrofitted Unimog designed for transport to airfields in austere areas of Southwest

  • From tragedy comes triumph: Wounded warrior shares his story

    The first bullet struck him in the hip. But it was the second shot, the one that hit Staff Sgt. Kristoffer Schneider in the forehead, which forever changed his life nearly two years ago.Schneider and his wife, Amanda, shared his story of surviving the 2011 terror attack at Frankfurt International

  • F-22 pilot flies boy's letter 'closer to heaven'

    MacAidan "Mac" Gallegos was only 5 when his father, Army Sgt. Justin Gallegos, was killed in Afghanistan in 2009. Not a day goes by that he doesn't think about him. On days like Jan. 24, his father's 31st birthday, he has found a special way to celebrate his birthday and honor his memory. "I wanted

  • Reserve announces revised force structure actions

    Air Force Reserve Command officials are moving forward with force structure changes authorized by the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal 2013.Air Force, Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard leaders collaborated to develop one Total Force Proposal in response to concerns raised by

  • Afghan air force advances battlefield support tactics

    The commanders of the Afghan air force and NATO Air Training Command-Afghanistan signed two operational decrees Jan. 23, implementing procedures to improve air response to Afghan battlefield casualties by the AAF's new Cessna C-208 Caravan fleet and its Mi-17 helicopters. The decrees address the

  • US planes deliver French troops to Mali

    The U.S. Air Force began transporting French soldiers and military equipment Jan. 21 from Istres, France to Bamako, Mali, in support of French military operations. C-17 Globemaster III, operating under the control of U.S. Africa Command, are moving a French mechanized infantry battalion. The ongoing

  • 400-plus selected for squadron, group command

    More than 400 officers from various Air Force career fields have been selected for mission support, training, recruiting, air base squadron and deputy maintenance group command, Air Force Personnel Center officials announced. Using squadron commander candidate lists released in November, wing hiring

  • Team's 'heart' keeps mission on track

    The term "air power" was put to the test after a late-night emergency medical flight used a closed section of the air field in order to save a life Jan. 15 here.Due to ongoing air field construction, a section of the field is closed during a certain timeframe every day and is not scheduled to reopen

  • Training eases stress, strain of deployed duties for EOD Airmen

    On a bitter cold winter morning explosive ordnance disposal technicians conducted training exercises Jan. 10 at Fort Carson, Colo. designed to simulate the mental and physical fatigues experienced while deployed. The exercises included unexploded ordnance and improvised explosive devices, called

  • Pentagon to lift rule excluding women from combat

    Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta and Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, are expected to announce the lifting of the direct combat exclusion rule for women in the military, a senior defense official said today.The policy change will begin a process in which the

  • KC-135 tankers get a boost from innovative, fuel-saving engines

    Some decades-old KC-135 Stratotanker are drinking from the fountain of youth -- or at least the engines are.Airmen installed the first of 1,440 upgraded Stratotanker engines at MacDill Air Force Base, Fla., Jan. 15. The 1970s engine parts will be replaced with modern engines that burn less fuel and

  • Academy cadets march in 57th Inaugural Parade

    Cadets with the Air Force Academy's outstanding cadet squadron of 2012 marched down the streets of Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington Jan. 22 as part of the 57th Inauguration Parade, honoring the swearing-in of President Barack Obama.Hundred of thousands of spectators greeted the Raptors of Cadet

  • Despite Smaller Budget, Air Force Seeks to Protect Satellites

    Despite tremendous budget uncertainty and a shrinking bottom line, the commander of the Air Force Space Command said that he will do his best to protect all of the Air Force's satellite constellations.Speaking with reporters at a recent meeting of the Defense Writers Group, Air Force Gen. William L.

  • ACC seeks air liaison officers

    Eligible officers interested in air liaison officer duty have until Feb. 7 to complete and submit their application package to Air Combat Command, Air Force Personnel Center officials said.ALO duty is open to men and women who are active-duty crossflow candidates, inter-service transfer applicants,

  • Multi-national leadership program to improve mission planning

    Airmen with the 493rd Fighter Squadron from Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England, are participating in the Tactical Leadership Program here Jan. 16 to Feb. 7.The TLP is a multi-national program that enhances key leadership and mission planning skills needed for NATO operations. "It's a 10-nation

  • Air Force Space Command to bolster cyber force

    The Air Force Space Command expects to be directed to add 1,000 new people, mainly civilians, to its base of about 6,000 cyber professionals for fiscal 2014, the command's chief said here Jan. 17.Speaking with reporters at a meeting of the Defense Writers Group, Gen. William L. Shelton said

  • Team of Airmen to attempt Mount Everest climb

    Four Air Force Academy graduates may be busy preparing to climb the world's highest peak in May, but they haven't forgotten where mountaineering first began for them: here, climbing Colorado's 14,000-foot peaks as cadets. A team of six seasoned Air Force mountaineers; currently stationed in

  • Airman chosen for Inaugural Ball first dance

    The Department of Defense has chosen four of its top men and women representing their respective service branches to join the Obamas and Bidens for the traditional first dance at the Presidential Inaugural Committee's Commander-in-Chief's Ball at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center Jan.

  • CJCS enlisted advisor shares joint vision with Airmen

    Once a person dons the uniform of their branch of service it can be easy to let their identity as an Airman, Soldier, Sailor or Marine cloud the fact that they are a member of a larger U.S. military. Marine Sgt. Maj. Bryan Battaglia, the senior enlisted advisor to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of

  • Air Force duo design smart phone application for Inauguration Day

    Two Airmen with the Joint Task Force - National Capital Region Public Affairs created a free, public cellphone application that allows users to stay informed about the 57th Presidential Inauguration.The program, called "Inauguration," was released Jan. 14 and compiles news and other material related

  • 'Hurricane Hunters' kept relentless watch on 2012 storms

    As the nation rebounds from 19 named storms and 11 major hurricanes in 2012, a small but hardy military organization keeps relentless watch to track and prepare for such disasters.Located at Keesler Air Force Base, Miss., the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron, dubbed the "Hurricane Hunters" of

  • Air Force names Lance P. Sijan Award winners

    Air Force officials recently announced the winners of the 2012 Lance P. Sijan Air Force Leadership Award.The Lance P. Sijan Air Force Leadership Award recognizes Airmen who demonstrate outstanding leadership abilities.The senior officer category winner is Lt. Col. Nathan C. Green, who is assigned to

  • AF medical team trains for important inauguration role

    The 56th Presidential Inauguration, held Jan. 20, 2009, set a record attendance for any event held in Washington D.C., and was one of the most-observed events ever by the global audience. With more than 1 million attendees just four years ago, preparations for the 57th Presidential Inauguration have

  • Agency brings real intel to aerial combat exercise

    For the first time in 38 years, realistic intelligence will be an integral part of the Air Force's signature aerial combat training exercise.The Air Force Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Agency, via its 526th Intelligence Squadron, will be a key player at Red Flag 13-3, Feb. 25 to

  • CSAF gets firsthand look at RPA operations

    Airmen of the 432nd Wing and 432nd Air Expeditionary Wing welcomed Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark A. Welsh III during a visit here Jan. 14.The visit gave the chief of staff an opportunity to meet the Airmen who perform the Air Force's intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance mission.Welsh

  • Warfighters discuss mission accomplishment at WEPTAC

    Approximately 670 warfighters from across the Air Combat Command gathered Jan. 3 to 16 at the Weapons and Tactics conference here hosted by the U.S. Air Force Warfare Center. Attendees discussed ways to efficiently and effectively accomplish the Air Force mission with equipment they already possess

  • Airmen featured in upcoming documentary series

    A six-episode television documentary exploring Air Force combat rescue in Afghanistan through the stories of deployed Airmen slated to premiere Feb. 18, at 10 p.m. EST/PST.The show, "Inside Combat Rescue," provides a real-time look at the experiences of Airmen working to save the lives of NATO

  • Civil engineers meet with industry to develop partnerships

    The newly established Air Force Civil Engineer Center hosted its first industry day Jan. 15 in San Antonio.Maj. Gen. Timothy Byers, the Air Force civil engineer, and Joe Sciabica, Air Force Civil Engineer Center director, addressed more than 350 industry professionals about the future of Air Force

  • Air Force advocate on House Armed Services Committee passes away

    A retired Air Force colonel and one-time Thunderbirds air demonstration team pilot, who was an important Air Force advocate as a staffer with the House Armed Services Committee, has passed away.Douglas C. Roach passed away Jan. 11 from complications due to cancer at the age of 70. "The Air Force

  • Tops in Blue gets boost from Air Force licensing program

    Tops in Blue, the Air Force's premier traveling entertainment troupe, was selected to receive $100,000 from the Air Force's Trademark and Licensing Office.The Trademark and Licensing Office, which operates with the Air Force Public Affairs Agency here, processes requests from around the world

  • 75 day leave carryover extended

    Airmen with more than 60 days of leave at the beginning of next fiscal year may be able to carry it into the next fiscal year thanks to a provision in the FY 2013 National Defense Authorization Act. The provision extends the maximum leave carryover of 75 days through Sept. 30, 2015, according to

  • Airman fatally injured at MacDill AFB

    A member of the 6th Air Mobility Wing died in an industrial area accident here Jan. 14, at approximately 4:30 p.m.The Airman has been identified as Staff Sgt. Emily Elizabeth Clayburn, of Palatine Bridge, N.Y. The 29-year-old Airman was assigned to the 6th Logistic Readiness Squadron. "The 6th Air

  • Reservists, local police team up for C-17 rescue training

    Airmen of the 446th Airlift Wing teamed up with a local police dive team to conduct familiarization training on the C-17 Globemaster here Jan. 10. Nate Condreay, Pierce County Metro deputy sheriff and rescue diver, reached out to the 446th AW for Air Force aircraft specialists to train the police

  • Gunship guru saves $14 million

    Bill Walter, an Air Force Special Operation Command Strike Requirements Branch program analyst, has a long history of brainstorming money-saving ideas and seeing them to fruition. A tip from the U.S. Army Ammunition Program Office led Walter to a valuable supply of modified 40 mm  M2 A1 gun parts

  • Brothers have reunion at 23,000 feet

    There are many predictable things about deployments, but for one Airman, the unpredictable happened. He didn't expect a family reunion, but got one - at 23,000 feet in the air two days before Christmas. The day started like any other for 1st Lt. Michael Ellsworth, 963rd Expeditionary Airborne Air

  • Humanitarian award presented to Florida businessman

    The military services chose a longtime Air Force volunteer from Florida as this year's recipient of the Zachary and Elizabeth Fisher Distinguished Civilian Humanitarian Award. Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley presented the award to Chris Sehman, a local businessman from Okaloosa County,

  • AF officials reschedule MilPDS upgrade

    Originally slated for December 2012, Air Force officials will perform a major upgrade to the Military Personnel Data System, or MilPDS, March 2013.The Air Force Personnel Operations Agency here will upgrade and transfer MilPDS to the Defense Information Systems Agency Defense Enterprise Computing

  • GI Bill education transfer incurs 4 years for all Airmen

    When initially implemented, the Post-9/11 GI Bill education transfer program was phased in to enable Airmen nearing retirement to accept a 1-, 2-, or 3-year active-duty service commitment. That phase-in period expired July 31, 2012 and all active-duty Airmen now incur a 4-year ADSC, said Bruce

  • Air Force leaders will deliver budget guidance to force in days

    Air Force leaders will deliver guidance to the force in a few days to begin prudent planning for the uncertain budget environment ahead, Air Force Secretary Michael B. Donley said here Jan. 11.Donley and Gen. Mark A. Welsh III, the Air Force chief of staff, briefed Pentagon reporters Jan. 11, on the

  • AF implements non-volunteer MTI selection process

    Technical sergeants and master sergeants who meet qualification requirements may be non-voluntarily selected for military training instructor duty, Air Force Personnel Center officials said."Low MTI manning levels in 2003 resulted in non-volunteer selections, so this decision is not without

  • Misawa starts New Year double booked

    As Airmen with the 35th Fighter Wing engage in an initial readiness response exercise Jan. 10 to 12 at Misawa Air Base, it is hard to ignore the extraordinarily busy nature of the flightline.Despite the fact the flightline plays an integral role during an IRRE, which tests the wing's ability to

  • Airman awarded National Defense Space Award

    The first Forrest S. McCartney National Defense Space Award was presented to Maj. Kenneth Holmes, the Air Force Special Operations Command chief of space training, at the National Space Club luncheon here Jan. 8.The award recognizes significant contributions of Department of Defense personnel on

  • Academy Band conductor nominated for regional Emmy

    The commander and conductor of the Air Force Academy Band may soon be clutching an award statuette from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.Lt. Col. Don Schofield was nominated for a regional Emmy award this year for his 2011 production of "Holiday Notes from Home" and will attend

  • New tools in use for investigating, prosecuting child pornography

    A few years ago, individuals who viewed and downloaded child pornography were rarely discovered. However, with new technology and assistance from the Department of Justice, law enforcement agencies within the Department of Defense are successfully detecting and prosecuting more offenders. These

  • Panetta: Fiscal crisis poses biggest immediate threat to DOD

    The "perfect storm of budget uncertainty" howling around his department is the biggest immediate threat facing the U.S. military, Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta told reporters here today.Panetta and Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, stressed during a regular

  • AF officials reschedule MilPDS upgrade

    Originally slated for December of last year, Air Force officials will perform a major upgrade to the Military Personnel Data System, or MilPDS, in March.The Air Force Personnel Operations Agency here will upgrade and transfer MilPDS to the Defense Information Systems Agency Defense Enterprise

  • Hundreds on first 2013 supplemental promotion list

    Several hundred Air Force enlisted members were selected for promotion in the January supplemental promotion process, Air Force Personnel Center officials announced today. To see the list, go to http://www.afpc.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-130110-004.pdf.  Airmen on the supplemental list tested

  • Air Force Academy parachute team wins 46 medals at national competition

    The Wings of Blue Air Force Parachute Team won 46 medals and set five national collegiate records at the National Collegiate Parachute Competition here Jan. 2.Wings of Blue skydivers took home 13 gold, 18 silver and 15 bronze medals at the competition, held from Dec. 2 - Jan. 2. The Air Force Legacy

  • U.S. pursues better ballistic missile defenses

    While refining the systems that protect the homeland against long-range ballistic missile attacks, the United States is advancing technologies to counter the growing threat of short- and medium-range missiles launched by rogue states or terrorists, a top U.S. Northern Command officer told American

  • AF largest refueling squadron tops 50K combat hours in 2012

    Averaging more than 136 hours a day, the largest refueling squadron in the world flew more than 50,000 combat hours within 2012's 366 calendar days using the Total Force Integration model."Surpassing 50,000 hours is a significant milestone," said Lt. Col. Brian Gilpatrick, 340th Expeditionary Air

  • Airmen bring wealth of experience to PRT nerve center

    What do you get when you put an Air Force vehicle operator, water fuels system maintainer, bioenvironmental engineer technician, and airfield systems technician together? According to the leadership at the Zabul Provincial Reconstruction Team, you get one of the most efficiently run tactical

  • Hotaling named next Air National Guard Command Chief

    Chief Master Sgt. James Hotaling from the Continental U.S. NORAD Region-1st Air Force here was named as the Air National Guard's next command chief today.As ANG command chief, Hotaling will serve as the senior adviser to Lt. Gen. Sid Clarke, the incoming director of the Air National Guard, on

  • Air Force supports defense of Turkey

    Mobility Airmen are enabling their Army counterparts to meet a Secretary of Defense order to move two Patriot anti-missile batteries and hundreds of Soldiers to support Turkey, a U.S. ally.According to officials, Airmen worked around the clock to support a NATO request to deploy two Patriot

  • Flying crew chiefs 'know everything'

    When a $200 million aircraft breaks down in a dangerous place like Afghanistan or Colombia, pilots just can't call "triple A" but they can call on their flying crew chief who, as most aircrew members know, knows everything.Flying crew chiefs are the mechanics of the sky, flying missions all over the

  • Deadline nears to nominate employers for recognition

    Reserve-component service members have until Jan. 21 to nominate their employers for a 2013 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award, according to a Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve news release.Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve, a Department of Defense agency, manages

  • Deployed Airmen help Afghan police with security checkpoint

    At a busy intersection in Parwan Province near Bagram Airfield, adults and children alike stopped to watch as a crane lofted what looked like a shipping container above the heads of Afghan and American servicemembers Jan. 7.The container was actually the top of an old guard tower from Bagram

  • U.S., Canada think ahead to NORAD Next

    More than a half century since it was established to confront the Cold War threat, North American Aerospace Defense Command is at a new crossroads as officials in the United States and Canada determine the capabilities it will need to confront emerging challenges and threats in the decades

  • SecAF, CMSAF hold Airman's Call on the 'Rock'

    Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley and Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James Roy met with Airmen from the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing here December 30. Donley and Roy visited the 386th AEW and held an Airman's Call as part of a multi-base tour to meet with deployed Airmen within the U.S.

  • AF opens new nuclear training center

    Almost 10 years of joint effort and cooperation culminated in a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the new Nuclear Security Tactics Training Center in Guernsey, Wyo., Dec. 13.The $4.2 million facility boasts 14,500 square feet of functional space for training classrooms and cadre offices, and has been

  • AFTAC Airman wins Air Staff-level award

    An Airman assigned to the Air Force Technical Applications Center here was selected as the Air Force's Outstanding Scientific Applications Specialist-Technician of the Year Award for 2012.Senior Airman Jacob Caron, a systems control shift leader at AFTAC, learned of his selection when he opened his

  • Obama Signs $633 Billion Defense Authorization Act

    President Barack Obama signed the $633 billion fiscal 2013 National Defense Authorization Act into law yesterday.The legislation, which cleared Congress last month, authorizes the department to act in any number of instances. "There are certain things that cannot be done without [the authorization

  • SecAF, CMSAF visit Southwest Asia

    Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley and Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James Roy visited the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing Dec. 29 and 30, as part of an overall trip to U.S. Air Forces Central Command's area of responsibility to thank Airmen for their service during the holidays."It's been

  • Airmen and Soldier musicians play in unison

    Editor's Note: This is the first article in a series about the U.S. Air Forces Central Band, the only assigned Air Force Band to the Central Command Area of Responsibility. Based in Southwest Asia, the current band "Total Force" is comprised of deployed Airmen from the Band of the U.S. Air Force

  • Legislators avoid fiscal cliff, delay sequester process

    Congress has avoided the fiscal cliff, but Pentagon Press Secretary George Little called on the body to continue efforts to permanently eliminate the threat of sequestration.The House of Representatives passed a Senate proposal that avoided the fiscal cliff last night. Defense Secretary Leon E.

  • DOD heightens training, prevention to target human trafficking

    To spark awareness and vigilance against a growing global human rights crisis, President Barack Obama has proclaimed January as National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month.Linda Dixon, the Defense Department's program manager for combating trafficking in persons, told the Pentagon

  • AF releases selective reenlistment bonus list

    Three Air Force specialty codes have been added to the selective reenlistment bonus list, and two have seen an increase in bonus amounts, Air Force Personnel Center officials said. In addition, one career field has been removed from the SRB list and one will see a bonus decrease effective Jan.

  • New training facility opens in Wyoming

    Almost ten years of joint effort and cooperation culminated in a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the new Nuclear Security Tactics Training Center in Guernsey, Wyo., in December.The $4.2 million facility boasts 14,500 square feet of functional space for training classrooms and cadre offices, and has been

  • Deployed Airman receives Christmas phone call from President Obama

    "Hello, President Obama? ... I'm great, how are you?" So began the most memorable phone call of a six-month deployment for Senior Airman Keshia Shutts with the 451st Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron here, who received a Christmas morning phone call from President Barack Obama.The

  • Premier AF concert band 'wows' fellow musicians at Midwest Clinic

    The U.S. Air Force Premier Concert Band performed three heart-pounding concerts for musicians, mentors and fans gathered from across the world, Dec. 19, here at the 66th Annual Midwest Clinic.The U.S. Air Force Band became the talk of the conference on opening day following their morning performance

  • Pararescue, security forces Airmen train as one

    The afternoon sky was still and silent just before a thunderous HH-60G Pave Hawk landed thrusting 100 mph winds. Out jumped three pararescuemen assessing possible threats in all directions as they headed to aid an injured member of a friendly force.The 38th Rescue Squadron and 823rd Base Defense

  • Panetta memo describes possible sequestration effects

    While many remain hopeful that Congress and the administration will reach a deal that avoids sequestration, Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta has issued a memo describing the potential implications of going over the fiscal cliff.Planning for the effects of an across-the-board cut in defense spending

  • Academy firefighters recognized for Waldo Canyon Fire efforts

    More than 50 firefighters with the 10th Civil Engineer Squadron here received Air Force Achievement Medals and Air Force Civilian Achievement Awards in a pair of ceremonies Dec. 19-20 for their efforts in containing the Waldo Canyon Fire, which burned 12 acres on the Air Force Academy in June but

  • 5th AF intergrates with joint partners for exercise

    U.S. Army and Air Force service members united with Japan Ground and Air Self Defense Forces members here to bilaterally coordinate ground operations and control airspace in support of Exercise Yama Sakura 63 in Sendai Dec. 6 through 13.For the first time, 5th Battlefield Coordination Detachment,

  • Airmen decrease response time with improved expeditionary medical team

    More than 60 medical Airmen from Andersen Air Force Base, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska and Yokota Air Base, Japan, joined trained on the new expeditionary medical support health response team here, Dec. 10-13. EMEDS is a team of expertly-trained medical professionals who utilize a mobile

  • New F-16 software platform to be tested by 40th, 85th

    Developmental testing for an F-16 operational flight program will be accomplished at the 40th Flight Test Squadron and 85th Test and Evaluation Squadron here for the first time.The testing for Block 40 and 50 model F-16s is scheduled to begin in 2014 and will also be the first time developmental

  • Air Force Cross recipients honored at Pope Field

    Four bronze busts in the likeness of Air Force Cross recipients were unveiled during a ceremony here honoring the Airmen at the Combat Control School Dec. 6. The busts honor Capt. Barry Crawford, Tech. Sgt. John Chapman, Staff Sgts. Robert Gutierrez and Zach Rhyner. Crawford and Gutierrez were in

  • Iraqi Air Force receives three C130J aircraft

    The Iraqi Air Force celebrated an important milestone when they received a third C-130J aircraft at a rollout ceremony held at Lockheed Martin's factory here Dec. 12, 2012.The ceremony is a culmination of many activities to reinforce a long-term partnership between the United States and Iraq and

  • PACAF Airmen share best practices with ROK space team

    Members of Pacific Air Forces' space forces met with visiting members of the Republic of Korea, Deputy Chief of Staff Planning team, to discuss space successes and challenges, Dec. 7, 2012.Maj. Gen. Kyeong-Doo Jeong, DCS for Planning Republic of Korea Air Force headquarters, led the group during the

  • Guard members prepare for variety of roles in presidential inauguration

    Approximately 6,000 Army and Air National Guard members from 15 states and territories are preparing to take part in and support the 57th Presidential Inauguration, said officials. "They will be coming into the District of Columbia, processed in and will go out to several parts of the city where

  • Hardship withdrawal rules relaxed to help victims of Hurricane Sandy

    The Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board announced it has made temporary changes to the Thrift Savings Plan hardship withdrawal rules to help victims of Hurricane Sandy pursuant to the guidance issued by the Internal Revenue Service on Nov. 16.The TSP will treat any Financial Hardship

  • Air Force officials complete environmental restoration

    The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality issued a closure letter Nov. 1, for the environmental restoration of a site located 4.5 miles southwest of the flightline here, where a B-47 plane crashed in 1958.On Nov. 4, 1958, a B-47 carrying one nuclear bomb caught fire while taking off from Dyess

  • Panetta signs order to deploy 400 U.S. personnel to Turkey

    Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta has signed an order that will deploy 400 U.S. personnel to Turkey to support the deployment that NATO agreed to recently of Patriot missile capability there, Pentagon Press Secretary George Little said today.Panetta signed the agreement en route to Turkey as he

  • Employment Website Teams With Joining Forces

    Employment website Monster.com is collaborating with the White House's Joining Forces campaign and will contribute to the initiative's goal of hiring or training an additional 250,000 veterans and military spouses by the end of 2014, Acting Commerce Department Secretary Rebecca M. Blank announced

  • Lajes Field drawdown as part of force structuring announced

    Department of Defense officials announced today that Lajes Field will transition from an air base wing to an air base group with a reduction of more than 400 military personnel and 500 family members by the end of fiscal year 2014. "The drawdown of the 65th Air Base Wing is part of a larger Air

  • OTS selection board results announced

    A total of 245 men and women from across America have earned an opportunity to become Air Force leaders following their selection for an officer's commission, officials here announced today. Air Force Recruiting Service officials considered 717 applications as part of the Officer Training School

  • Retired Col. Ralph S. Parr Jr. dies, memorial service announced

    Col. Ralph S. Parr Jr., 88, who was the only American pilot to receive both the Distinguished Service Cross and the Air Force Cross, passed away Dec. 7 at an assisted living facility in New Braunfels, Texas. Joint Base San Antonio will honor the legacy of one of the Air Force's most celebrated

  • Freedom Award recognizes Guard, Reserve supporters

    Reserve component members still have time to nominate their civilian employers for the 2013 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award, officials from Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve, a DOD agency, said today.Nominations for the award are due by Jan. 21, 2013. The award is the

  • Recruiting reorganization creates three new squadrons

    A reorganization within Air Force Recruiting Service is resulting in three new squadrons solely dedicated to health professions recruiting and as a result, a more appropriate focus on the HP mission.The newly activated squadrons are:360th Recruiting Group: The 318th Recruiting Squadron, based in

  • Air Force Academy, Colo. Springs to host 2013 Warrior Games

    The 2013 Warrior Games will be held at the U.S. Olympic Training Center and the Air Force Academy May 11-17, the U.S. Olympic Committee announced Monday.More than 200 wounded, ill and injured service members and veterans are expected to participate in 2013, comprising five U.S. teams representing

  • Q&A: AF chief information officer on Cyber Summit

    Air Force leaders held a Cyber Summit in November at Joint Base Andrews, Md., to discuss the Air Force's role in cyberspace and to ensure the mission needs of the Air Force and joint warfighter are being met going forward.More than 30 senior leaders, including the secretary and chief of staff of the