NATO Air Policing operations

U.S. Air Force News

  • Academy superintendent invited to join Order of the Sword

    Air Force Academy Superintendent Lt. Gen. Mike Gould was invited by the Academy's enlisted corps to join the Order of the Sword during a ceremony here Dec. 13.Chief Master Sgt. Todd Salzman brought the Academy's enlisted Airmen together under the guise of an enlisted call; he filled everyone in on

  • Holloman scientist receives Harold Brown Award

    A chief scientist from Holloman Air Force Base, N.M., received the 2011 Harold Brown Award on Dec. 12 for his role in significant advances in hypersonic missile research.Dr. Michael Hooser's work with the Holloman High Speed Test Track's artificial rain environment established benchmarks against

  • First Afghan pilot class in 30 years kicks off at Shindand

    The Afghan air force marked the beginning of its first undergraduate pilot training held exclusively inside Afghanistan in more than 30 years during a ceremony Dec. 10 here. More than 200 Afghan and coalition service members attended the ceremony.The first class will consist of seven Afghan air

  • Air Force MQ-9 crashes in Seychelles

    An Air Force MQ-9 Reaper crashed at the Seychelles International Airport in Mahe at 10:22 a.m. Dec. 13. The MQ-9 was not armed and no injuries were reported. The Seychelles government leaders were immediately notified, and the U.S. military and the Civil Aviation Authority of Seychelles are

  • AF instant messengers shutting down

    The Air Force will shut down the Air Force Instant Messenger and Friends and Family Instant Messenger services by Dec. 31. AFIM and FFIM are collaborative tools available on the Air Force Portal. AFIM is used by Air Force Portal users to chat with each other. FFIM is a subset of AFIM that allowed AF

  • Blended e-learning courses mix accessibility, personal touch

    As part of the effort to modernize Air Force training programs, the Ira C. Eaker Center for Professional Development here has taken to cyberspace recently with five new blended e-learning courses. Using a combination of online webinars and self-paced curriculum, the e-learning courses allow students

  • Dentists at Gardez welcome first, only clinical adviser

     At Paktia Regional Military Hospital at Gardez three Afghan dental workers are very excited about receiving their first adviser. Maj. Courtney Schapira is part of the Medical Embedded Training Team at Forward Operating Base Lightning. The team is made up of a variety of medical advisoes for the

  • US embassies welcome opportunities for interagency training

    United States embassies from across the globe are stepping up to participate in a unique training opportunity for Airmen known as the Embassy Immersion Fellowship program. The fellowship places Airmen side-by-side with their U.S. foreign service counterparts in a five-week program sponsored by the

  • Thunderbirds release 2012 show schedule

    The U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds announced their 2012 show schedule Dec. 7. The team is set to perform more than 60 demonstrations in 33 locations, including two shows in Canada.The team, officially known as the U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron, will again kick-off their season by performing

  • USO honors service members' leadership

    Medal of Honor recipient Marine Sgt. Dakota Meyer, a Navy SEAL killed in Afghanistan in August, a Soldier and an Air Force search-and-rescue team member who repeatedly exposed themselves to enemy fire to save their wounded comrades, and a Coast Guardsman who led maritime security operations in the

  • U.S., Honduran partners help more than 1,100 flood victims

    More than 20 medical personnel from Joint Task Force-Bravo provided general medical care to more than 1,100 flood victims Nov. 29 and 30 here. The JTF-Bravo team, from Soto Cano Air Base, Honduras, collaborated with their Honduran medical partners, including the Honduran Ministry of Health, to

  • Afghan, US forces combine for flightline security patrol

    History was made Dec. 3 at Kandahar Airfield when Afghan air force security forces partnered with their U.S Air Force counterparts for a flightline security patrol for the first time.Master Sgt. Terry Gilbert, the senior enlisted security forces adviser, said the patrol went well."The patrol was

  • Air Force pararescue exercise receives national accreditation

    The Angel Thunder exercise received Joint National Training Capability accreditation and certifications Nov. 30.Angel Thunder is an Air Combat Command-sponsored personnel recovery exercise held annually at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz. Rescue units from all over the world send pararescueman

  • Air Force rolls out new rifle qualification course

    Airmen taking the new Air Force Rifle Qualification Course are finding themselves learning more than just basic marksmanship skills.Changes requiring more intensive weapons training were published in September by the Air Force Security Center and officially took effect Dec. 1."Our combatant

  • Missile component damage reported at Minot AFB

    A small, replaceable component of a Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile was damaged Nov. 17 while maintenance technicians at Minot Air Force Base, N.D., conducted routine maintenance. Airmen reported the damage immediately to proper authorities in accordance with standard procedures.The

  • Vinyl treasure found on Wake Island

    In a tale straight from an adventure book, contractors here recently stumbled upon a vinyl record collection with an estimated value between $90,000 and $250,000. The 611th Air Support Group's Detachment 1 is now making a comprehensive effort to preserve the nearly 9,000 vintage vinyl records and

  • Airmen ensure emergency medical suppplies easily accessible

    Deployed medical Airmen have a launched a new program that will help ensure quick access to medical supplies in the event of an emergency or mass casualty event at the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing. The members of the 380th Expeditionary Medical Group here have placed two containers containing

  • Carter recognizes best junior, senior enlisted troops

    Deputy Defense Secretary Ashton B. Carter today paid tribute to the military's enlisted members while recognizing two deemed the best of the best."You may not read about them everyday ... but, behind the scenes, they are the unsung heroes," Carter said during a Pentagon ceremony honoring the Office

  • NORAD ready to track Santa's flight

    The North American Aerospace Defense Command is getting ready to track Santa's yuletide journey.The NORAD Tracks Santa website, http://www.noradsanta.org, went live Dec. 1 featuring a countdown calendar, a kid's countdown village complete with holiday games and activities that change daily, and

  • Environmental assessment underway for New Start Treaty silo eliminations

    An environmental assessment is underway at two Air Force Global Strike Command bases for the elimination of 100 empty missile silos and associated alert facilities, in accordance with the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty.Malmstrom Air Force Base, Mont., and F.E. Warren AFB, Wyo., will each

  • Biden, al-Maliki honor troops' sacrifices during Day of Commitment Ceremony

    Vice President Joe Biden attended the Government of Iraq Day of Commitment Ceremony in the Al Faw Palace at Victory Base Complex, Iraq, Dec. 1, 2011.Biden joined Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, Iraqi President Jalal Talabani and Ambassador to Iraq James F. Jeffrey in commemorating the

  • Airmen complete important GPS airdrop mission in Afghanistan

    Airmen from the 772nd Expeditionary Airlift Squadron successfully completed an airdrop mission to Combat Outpost Herrera in east Afghanistan, using GPS-guided bundles to deliver the supplies Nov. 27.The C-130 Hercules, operated by its crew from the 451st Air Expeditionary Wing at Kandahar Airfield,

  • 'Cool School' teaches arctic survival

    Surviving in the wilderness could be intimidating for some, but doing so during a brutal Alaskan winter could be downright scary. Detachment 1, 66th Training Squadron's Arctic Survival Training course, which began here recently, offers students a set of skills invaluable to enduring the subarctic

  • Commissaries to end magazine sales overseas

    Defense Commissary Agency officials have announced the end of magazine sales in their overseas stores beginning January 2012. This policy affects all commissaries in Europe, the Pacific (Japan, Okinawa, South Korea and Guam) and Puerto Rico.DeCA will continue to sell the Stars & Stripes newspaper

  • Electronic warfare officer instructs Navy pilots

    An Air Force electronic warfare officer recently became the first to upgrade and become a fully qualified instructor teaching Navy pilots flight maneuvers in the EA-6B Prowler.Maj. Martin Rann, an EA-6B Prowler instructor assigned to the Fixed Wing Electronic Attack Squadron 129, is attached to the

  • Nellis Airmen clean-up F-15 crash site

    Nellis Air Force Base Airmen worked alongside the Army National Guardsmen Aviation unit stationed in Stockton, Calif., to conduct recovery and clean-up efforts for the F-15C Eagle aircraft crash site in the Nevada Test and Training Range recently.The operation was the 820th RED HORSE Squadron

  • Faith connects US, Kyrgyz pastors

    The simple thought, "What can I do at my level," led the 376th Air Expeditionary Wing chaplain to a Bishkek church to start a religious exchange program. One of the four mission pillars of the Transit Center is to build relationships, and after contemplating how he could do this, Chaplain (Lt. Col.)

  • Maintenance advisers certify first-ever AAF expediter

    Maintenance advisers recently certified the first Afghan air force flightline expediter at Kandahar Air Wing.A direct maintenance commander delegate on the flightline and an expediter is responsible for efficiently utilizing manning and resources to effectively execute the flight schedule agreed

  • US, Kyrgyz officials participate in joint exercise

    Emergency responders from the Kyrgyz Ministries of Emergency Services, Interior and Defense participated in a joint explosive ordnance disposal and chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and high-yield explosives response exercise with their American counterparts Nov. 22 here.The exercise was

  • U.S., Swedish air forces conduct squadron exchange program

    Swedish Air Force and 48th Fighter Wing airmen participated in a week-long squadron exchange program here, which concluded Nov. 18. Swedish JAS-39 Gripen pilots went up against F-15C Eagle and F-15E Strike Eagle pilots in simulated combat scenarios to train with and learn from each other. The 493rd

  • VCSAF: America is an air and space nation

    The Air Force vice chief of staff discussed many topics concerning the current and future state of America's airpower at the Air Force Association's Global Warfare Symposium Nov. 18 in Los Angeles. Airpower has made the United States a global power, Gen. Phil Breedlove told an audience of

  • U.S., Canadian defense leaders call F-35 crucial

    Calling it crucial to the defense of North America, Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta and Canadian Defense Minister Peter G. MacKay today emphasized that both nations are committed to developing the F-35 joint strike fighter.At a news conference here in conjunction with the Halifax International

  • Flying Tigers reunite, honor 70 years of service

    The 2011 Flying Tigers reunion brought together pilots who have flown attack and rescue aircraft bearing the infamous shark's teeth for the past 70 years.The remaining original Flying Tigers, made up of American Volunteer Group pilots and supporters who defended China in World War II, met Nov. 10

  • Panetta cites concerns of sexual assault in the ranks

    Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta will issue "very direct guidance" in the coming months about how the department should respond to sexual assaults within the ranks, the Pentagon press secretary told reporters today.George Little cited public commentary from Capitol Hill and elsewhere on the

  • F-16s to strengthen Iraqi air defense, partnership with U.S.

    During a press conference Nov. 8  the commander of the Iraqi air force said Iraq's purchase of 18 F-16C Fighting Falcons, for their future air defense, will encourage and strengthen the strategic partnership between the U.S. and Iraq. In September, through the Foreign Military Sales program, the

  • Commander cites 'positive impact' from Iraq mission

    Most of about 24,000 U.S. service members remaining in Iraq will be home "well before Christmas," the last U.S. division commander there said today.Army Maj. Gen. Bernard S. Champoux, commander of U.S. Division-Center and the Hawaii-based 25th Infantry Division, briefed Pentagon reporters via video

  • Air Force Negotiation Center of Excellence conducts EU, NATO training

    "You don't get what you deserve, you get what you negotiate," reads the sign on the door of the Air Force Negotiation Center of Excellence, part of Air University's Spaatz Center for Officer Education, here. As the NCE director, Dr. Stef Eisen is the Air Force's authority on negotiation. He recently

  • Air Force refines force presentation, generation

    Air Force officials have been working for more than two years to develop a more consistent force presentation model for the Air Expeditionary Force deployment system.Future changes in how the Air Force presents its forces in the joint environment and generates forces to support combatant commanders

  • Afghan airmen begin functional check flight training

    With coalition adviser support, Afghan airmen began post-phase funcitional check flight training recently in an effort to further professionalize the Afghan air force at Kandahar Air Wing. A phase inspection is a detailed inspection of an aircraft that includes servicing and cleaning and takes place

  • Air Force updates doctrine documents

    The Air Force updated its two capstone doctrine documents.In October, the Air Force released Air Force Doctrine Document 1, Air Force Basic Doctrine, Organization, and Command. In early November, a revised AFDD 1-1, Leadership and Force Development, was approved and is expected to be available

  • CSAF, AFCENT commander highlight partnership in 2011 Dubai Airshow

    Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz and U.S. Air Forces Central Command Commander Lt. Gen. David Goldfein met with key United Arab Emirates leaders aboard the John C. Stennis (CVN-74) Navy carrier Nov. 13 in conjunction with the Dubai Airshow 2011 and the UAE's 40th Anniversary."The Dubai

  • U.S. assists with Turkish earthquake relief

    U.S. Air Forces in Europe sent a C-130J Super Hercules loaded with arctic relief supplies to south-eastern Turkey on Nov. 13 to aid victims of recent earthquakes there.The Van region of Turkey is coping with the aftereffects of two earthquakes: a magnitude 7.2 quake that occurred Oct. 23 and a

  • Air Force launches cutting-edge culture & language website

    The Air Force Culture and Language Center, part of Air University's Spaatz Center here, recently launched a new public website to provide information on the Air Force's efforts to increase cross-cultural competence -- a critical warfighting skill cited by Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta in an

  • 28th BW garners top bomb wing honors

    After proving to be the top bomb wing in the U.S. Air Force, the 28th Bomb Wing here will bring home the Stanley Cup of trophies in the bomber community -- the Fairchild Trophy.The announcement was made during the Global Strike Command's Global Strike Challenge competition award ceremony at

  • Pararescuemen train in Djiboutian desert

    Pararescuemen with the 82nd Expeditionary Rescue Squadron conducted a training rescue mission here recently. The training involved parachuting into a simulated crash site, locating and treating casualties, and coordinating evacuation while maintaining security. For the slideshow, click here.

  • Airmen host Kyrgyz soldiers for professional development event

     Airmen from here and soldiers from the Koi Tash NCO Academy met for a professional military education exchange Nov. 10 here.The event centered on the Airman Leadership School methods of course delivery and the four primary curriculum topics of expeditionary Airmen, supervisor of Airmen, military

  • Kyrgyz, U.S. Women's Club shows similarities, creates friendships

    It seems no matter the location, get a bunch of women together and they can always find something about which to talk. That's the idea -- and the result -- in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, when female American service members deployed to the Transit Center at Manas to visit with Kyrgyz ladies during a weekly

  • Close air support protects coalition forces, kills 70 insurgents

    F-15E Strike Eagles from the 335th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron and F-16 Fighting Falcons from the 121st EFS dropped more than 9,000 pounds of munitions through severe weather on enemy forces trying to overrun a combat outpost in Paktika province, Afghanistan, Nov. 8. According to reports, up to

  • Obama urges nation to serve veterans who served

    President Barack Obama taped his weekly radio address, released Nov. 12, from the bridge of the USS Carl Vinson in San Diego, praising the men and women and uniform and underscoring the nation's commitment to them and all veterans.The president, who traveled to the ship Nov. 11 to meet with the crew

  • Air Force participates in joint homeland defense exercise

    A variety of military and federal organizations participated in a first-of-its-kind homeland defense event Nov. 7 as part of the Joint-Deployable Integrated Air and Missile Defense field training exercise conducted in Key West, Fla.According to Maj. Greg Lewis, the chief of command and control,

  • JB Balad wraps up operations

    What was once a bustling hub for U.S. operations in Iraq has now transitioned into a quiet and empty shell of its former self.In accordance with a 2008 security agreement between the U.S. and Iraq, Joint Base Balad was transitioned to the government of Iraq and the U.S. military presence has

  • U.S. NORTHCOM activates Defense Coordinating Officer for Alaska

    At the request of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, U.S. Northern Command activated the Defense Coordinating Officer and Defense Coordinating Element Nov. 9 in preparation for support to civil authorities in advance of a severe winter storm expected along the Alaskan west coast.DCOs and DCEs

  • Multi-service office to advance air-sea battle concept

    The Department of Defense announced the creation of a new office to integrate air and naval combat capabilities in support of emerging national security requirements Nov. 9.In the 2010 Quadrennial Defense Review, former Secretary of Defense Robert Gates directed the Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps

  • Mildenhall combat controller earns Grateful Nation Award

    'First There,' a motto combat controllers bellow during their two-year training pipeline, and later affirm in blood, sweat and sacrifice on the most forward-deployed and dangerous battlefields as they pave the way for other forces to follow.As a member of the most highly trained special operations

  • Libya mission ends, Airmen come home

    Airmen from the 22nd Air Refueling Wing here are returning home from Operation Unified Protector with more than 3,000 sorties and 29,170 hours flown. In March 2011, United Nations Security Council Resolution 1973 established a no-fly zone and NATO forces conducted ground strikes in coordination with

  • Fallen pilot laid to rest after 43 years

    Since 1977 a marker in memory of Air Force Col. Gilbert S. Palmer Jr. sat upon a hill for the pilot who went missing in action Feb. 27, 1968. Now, more than 43 years later, Palmer's remains have been returned to his family for proper burial in Arlington with full military honors. More than 30

  • Afghan airmen begin law enforcement patrols

    Afghan air force security forces members initiated the first-ever law enforcement patrols on the AAF compound in Kandahar recently.Working with advisers from the 738th Air Expeditionary Advisory Group and with a goal of providing security on the AAF compound, the Afghan military police team began

  • Afghan women learn first aid

    Thirteen Afghan women received life-saving first aid training at a provincial women's development center meeting Nov. 1 in the Paktya province.U.S. service members assigned to the Paktya Provincial Reconstruction Team and the Nebraska Agribusiness Development Team, both located on Forward Operating

  • Air Force Reserve pilot the first to reach 1,000 F-22 flight hours

    An Air Force Reserve pilot made history here Nov. 4 when he flew his 1,000 flight hour in an F-22 Raptor.Lt. Col. David Piffarerio, the 302nd Fighter Squadron commander, became the first Air Force pilot to reach the historic milestone."This is a great milestone for the pilots, maintainers and

  • AF lodging reservations go online

    Airmen and families now have an easier way to make lodging reservations for Air Force Inns worldwide.The Defense Lodging System now features online reservations and the capability for customers to leave online feedback about their stay at an Air Force lodging facility. Nearly 90 percent of all Air

  • Defense officials urge nuclear deterrent funding

    The nation's security strategy is built on nuclear deterrence, and the systems and workforce that support nuclear capabilities must be sustained, senior Defense Department officials told Congress Nov. 2.James N. Miller, the principal deputy undersecretary of defense for policy, and Gen. C. Robert

  • 33rd RQS kicks off Pacific Thunder

    Members of the 33rd Rescue Squadron are teaming up with the 25th Fighter Squadron for Exercise Pacific Thunder 2011 Oct. 31 through Nov. 9 at Osan Air Base, Korea.Four HH-60G Pave Hawks from the 33rd Rescue Squadron here flew to Osan AB to participate in the exercise alongside A-10 Thunderbolt II's

  • JB McChord aircrew delivers aid to Turkish earthquake victims

    An aircrew from here delivered humanitarian relief supplies to eastern Turkey Nov. 1 to aid victims of a recent 7.2 magnitude earthquake.The five-member C-17 Globemaster III crew, assigned to the 10th Airlift Squadron, delivered a 75,000-pound load of tents to Erzurum Airport, Turkey."The men and

  • Afghanistan Pakistan Hands Airman trains future Afghan pilots

    As an Air Force aviator, Lt. Col. Daryl Sassaman had been to Afghanistan before; however, never did he imagine he would one day be living with the Afghans, working to hone their English language capabilities, while improving his Dari proficiency. Today, he is one of approximately 253 service

  • AFMC officials restructure to cut overhead, make command more efficient

    Air Force officials announced an Air Force Materiel Command-wide restructure Nov. 2 that is aimed at providing greater military capabilities, improving readiness and operating effectively in the current fiscal environment.AFMC officials will reduce the number of its centers from 12 to five. This

  • Air Force modernization takes B-2 to North Pole

    A B-2 Spirit flew from here to the North Pole and back Oct. 27 on a mission to test the aircraft's hardware and software upgrades, endurance and its performance at extremely high latitudes. The 18-plus hour mission consisted of developmental and operational test points to prove that the B-2's

  • Airmen transport wounded Libyan fighters to U.S.

    Nearly two dozen wounded Libyan fighters were evacuated from Libya to here Oct. 29 aboard a C-17 Globemaster III. At the request of State Department officials, the Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta directed two missions supporting the humanitarian assistance effort in Libya. In the first mission,

  • MC-12 reaches major milestones in Afghanistan

    Airmen from the 4th Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron here achieved three major milestones in the month of October supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.The squadron, which operates the MC-12 Liberty, surpassed 10,000 sorties flown, 50,000 flight hours and supported ground operations that led to

  • Air Force assists in historic final transfer of Iraq's airspace

     With the Air Force's assistance, Iraq now has full air traffic control responsibility for the country's airspace for the first time since 2003.The Air Force transferred management of the Baghdad and Joint Base Balad Airspace sector to the Iraq Civil Aviation Authority Oct. 1. With this historic

  • Airmen deliver aid to Turkish earthquake victims

     U.S. European Command officials sent two C-130J Super Hercules loaded with cots, blankets, sleeping bags and hygiene kits to north eastern Turkey, Oct. 29 to aid victims of a recent earthquake there.The C-130Js from the 86th Airlift Wing departed Ramstein Air Base, Germany, to deliver the supplies

  • Air Force Week in Photos

    This week's photos 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 the slideshow.

  • Navigator, logistics officer receive Cheney Award

    Two Airmen received the Cheney Award from Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley here Oct. 27 in recognition of their efforts to support Pakistan flood relief operations in 2010. Maj. John Foy, a C-130E/H Hercules navigator, and Capt. Patrick Markey, a logistics readiness officer; both assigned

  • President, first lady visit Langley AFB

    President Barack Obama made an official visit here Oct. 19 to speak to service members and invited guests to show his support for the American military, and address how he hopes to put more money in the pockets of working men and women. The visit was on the third day of Obama's American Jobs Act bus

  • Firefighters teach fire prevention to Honduran children

    Firefighters from the 612th Air Base Squadron provided fire safety training to more than 95 local kindergarten children here recently. The activities, as part  fire prevention week, included crawling through a simulator containing dry ice smoke, participating in a smoke detector class, touring

  • Panetta addresses bilateral audience at Yokota AB

    Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta addressed about 200 U.S. and Japanese service members here Oct. 24. During his speech, Panetta thanked those who are serving and touched on many issues facing the military as well as its future endeavors throughout the world. "The strength of America lies in the

  • Nellis AFB F-15C crashes

    An F-15C Eagle aircraft crashed at approximately 4:45 p.m. Oct. 24 on federal lands northwest of Alamo, Nev.The pilot ejected from the aircraft and was transported to the Mike O'Callaghan Federal Hospital for medical examination, but was uninjured.There is no outstanding threat to the public at this

  • Panetta answers troops' questions in Japan

    Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta answered troops' questions about the impact of defense budget cuts on the U.S. military presence in Japan, time at home for soldiers between deployments and other topics during a town hall meeting here Oct. 24.Addressing some 200 troops gathered in the 459th Airlift

  • Mobility Air Forces Airmen shoulder success of fuel conservation efforts

    Experienced marathon athletes are rarely haphazard about running. From the morning's breakfast ingredients to stretching minutes before they start, marathon performance relies heavily on controlled efficiency. Similarly, air mobility performance increasingly relies on controlled fuel efficiency. As

  • Air Force medical leaders gather to discuss future healthcare improvements

    The Air Force Medical Service gathered more than 300 senior healthcare leaders at The National Conference Center Oct. 19 here to kick off its annual week-long workshop to discuss the continued transformation of military healthcare and find ways to improve the overall patient experience.Senior

  • Air Force Week in Photos

    This week's photos 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 the slideshow.

  • Basic trainee succumbs during training

    Air Force officials here announced the death of a basic trainee who died Oct. 19 at Southwest General Hospital in San Antonio, Texas.Twenty-six-year-old Steven D. Williams of Detroit, Mich., had just completed his physical training assessment when he collapsed around 6 a.m. The assessment includes

  • Air Force band member performs at World Series

    A vocalist with the Air National Guard Band of the Central States performed in front of more than 46,000 people Oct. 19 at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, Mo.Staff Sgt. Brian Owens sang "God Bless America" during the seventh-inning stretch of the World Series between the Texas Rangers and St. Louis

  • New airlift routes provide new possibilities

    Planners here teamed with planners from the U.S. Transportation Command and the aircrew of a C-5M Super Galaxy Sept. 25 and 26 to open a new nonstop route from the U.S. to Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan.The aircrew members and aircraft originated from the 436th Airlift Wing at Dover Air Force Base,

  • Special tactics Airmen march to honor fallen comrades

    A team of 18 special tactics Airmen have one objective in mind: honor the fallen.The team recently began an 812-mile march from Medina Annex, Lackland Air Force Base, Texas to Hurlburt Field, Fla., to commemorate 17 fallen comrades.As they marched out at 5 a.m, carrying 50-pound rucksacks and a

  • Kandahar Air Wing fire department continues basic fire training

     Members of the Kandahar fire department, in conjunction with the 683rd Army Fire Department detachment continued basic three-level training on base with Afghan airmen here recently.Officials said the training curriculum is modeled after the National Fire Protection Association and there are three

  • Historic 'surge' exercises airlift crisis, contingency response

    A surge of C-5 Galaxies, slated to take place Oct. 17 - 21, will bring together 18 active-duty and 23 Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve Command crews and aircraft to fly cargo in support of combatant commanders across the globe. The assembly of the nation's largest military airlifters will

  • Thracian Fall exercise kicks off in Bulgaria

    Service members from the Air Force, Army, Navy and Bulgarian air force are participating in a two-week jump exercise here from Oct. 9 through 22.Operation Thracian Fall 2011 is part of a semi-annual, off-station training that gives U.S. and coalition jumpers and pilots an opportunity to hone their

  • Congress reviews future Reserve equipment upgrades

    As Congress works on the fiscal year 2012 budget and to reduce federal debt, Army and Air Force Reserve and National Guard leaders were on Capitol Hill here to testify and answer questions about their funding proposals Oct. 12.Chairman Roscoe Bartlett and Ranking Member Silvestre Reyes lead the

  • Security forces team trains Afghan air force counterparts

    Members of the 451st Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron Combat Arms Training and Maintenance team have partnered with members of the 443rd Air Expeditionary Advisory Squadron here to train the Afghan air force on small arms proficiency at Kandahar Air Wing.The CATM Airmen held a training session

  • Air Force Week in Photos

    This week's photos 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 the slideshow.

  • Campaign wants 'veteran' put back in Veterans Day

    A new campaign is working to put the "veteran" back into Veterans Day and to rally public awareness of the sacrifices made by injured veterans and their caregivers.The Wounded Warrior Project kicked off "Believe in Heroes," which focuses primarily on wounded veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan and

  • Captain wins national Women in Aerospace Achievement Award

    A program manager here has been named a co-winner of the national-level Women in Aerospace Achievement Award.Capt. Amanda Zuber, a Space-Based Infrared System field program manager assigned to the 45th Launch Support Squadron here, will receive her award in Nov. 1 in Washington D.C."This is a big

  • Air Force building the future force

    Changes are coming to the Air Force and officials are working with the Department of Defense to prioritize current and future resources as part of a national priority to reduce spending. In the spring of 2010 the Defense Department began a comprehensive effort to increase efficiencies, reduce

  • Airman earns $10,000 with a simple IDEA

    While performing a routine test procedure, a 90th Aircraft Maintenance Unit weapons expediter's heart sunk when he heard a sound no maintainer ever wants to hear -- crunch. He had accidentally damaged an F-22 Raptor configurable rail launcher that mounts the fighter's AIM-9 Sidewinder heat-seeking

  • Wing commander, spouse honored at Pentagon

     Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz presented Brig. Gen. Mark Dillon and his wife Sara the General and Mrs. Jerome F. O'Malley award during a ceremony here Oct. 11. The Dillons were honored for their service at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, where the general serves as the 86th Airlift Wing