NATO Air Policing operations

U.S. Air Force News

  • Nuclear deterrence medal approved for total force Airmen

    The Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal, approved May 27 by Secretary of the Air Force Deborah James, is among several incentives focused on attracting and retaining high-caliber Airmen in the nuclear mission, Air Force Personnel Center officials said May 30.

  • AF pilot helps in airline emergency

    An in-flight medical emergency caused Capt. Mark Gongol, a B-1B Lancer pilot, to jump into action and help safely land a commercial 737 on Dec. 30, 2013.

  • Air Force 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.

  • A beacon in the storm

    Tech. Sgt. David Gray could only watch as she leaned forward and softly kissed him goodbye. There was simply nothing more that could have been done. Feeling helpless, standing bedside with his mother, every imposing inch of his muscular frame had just been rocked. The aftershocks had yet to be felt,

  • Air Force recommends four-star position for Global Strike Command

    Air Force leaders continue to implement improvements to the Air Force’s nuclear mission and increase support to the men and women who operate, maintain and support the nation’s Intercontinental Ballistic Missile force. Following visits to the missile bases and visits with the Airmen who perform the

  • Biden to Class of 2014: 'You carry America on your back'

    The Air Force Academy's Class of 2014 will face new missions as the United States draws down in Afghanistan, but the challenges they encounter will be no less formidable and complex, Vice President Joseph R. Biden said during the Academy's commencement May 28.

  • Driving fatigued: One Airman's consequences

    "I heard a rumbling noise, then silence and then an intense 'bang' followed by another," said Master Sgt. David Louis Ingram Jr.'s as he recalled the noises he heard during a tragic car accident that would change his and his family's lives forever.

  • AF honors fallen hero with ship renaming

    The Air Force decided May 23, to honor a fallen hero by naming the service’s newest pre-positioning vessel after Air Force logistician Capt. David I. Lyon.

  • Air Force mental health programs encourage seeking help

    The number of Airmen seeking mental health care has increased over the last five years-- and this is a trend Air Force leaders encourage, according to a lead psychiatrist with the office of the Air Force Surgeon General.

  • Wrenches to wings: munitions maintainer becomes F-15C pilot

    Second Lt. Kyle Wheeler once prepared weapons for the F-15C Eagle as an munitions maintenance operator. After earning his commission, Wheeler is in the initial stages to climb into the cockpit and drop the weapons he once delivered.

  • Force protection, fire department team up for uniform burn

    Staff Sgt. Joshua Hellmich has done more than his fair share of "dumpster diving." It's up to this young NCO, along with members of his team assigned to the 386th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron's force protection flight, to ensure that no piece of critical information leaves the installation.

  • Combat Hammer 2014: Boosting RPA strike proficiency

    Airmen from the 432nd Wing/432nd Air Expeditionary Wing and the air-to-ground weapons system evaluation program, or WSEP, team participated in the 2014 Combat Hammer exercise May 12-15, to operationally assess and evaluate the reliability, maintainability, suitability, and accuracy of remotely

  • May 23 – Pulse on AF force management

    This week’s force management update focuses on the chief master sergeant retention board, voluntary separation pay, officer reduction in force boards, quality force review board, civilian force management and total force opportunities in a continued effort to bring Airmen the latest, most accurate

  • Air Force leaders issue Memorial Day message

    Secretary of the Air Force Deborah Lee James and Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark A. Welsh III send the following Memorial Day message to the Airmen of the U.S. Air Force and their families

  • Travis AFB hosts historic MWD trial

    The Travis Air Force Base trial brought 66 competitors from 29 different agencies to the base, with more than 400 spectators in attendance. The competition tested the ability of military working dog handlers and canines to work in cohesion in the fields of explosives and narcotics detection,

  • DOD sends UAV, 80 Airmen to help Nigerian search

    The Defense Department's addition of an unmanned aerial vehicle and 80 Air Force troops to U.S. efforts supporting Nigeria's search for over 200 missing schoolgirls has turned the mission into an air operation. The UAV system and Air Force personnel were deployed not to Nigeria but to neighboring

  • Risk management central to Critical Days of Summer

    The 2014 Critical Days of Summer, May 23 - Sept. 2, focuses on risk management for all summer activities -- on and off duty. This year's theme, "Risk: Double checks, not second thoughts," reminds Airmen to be responsible wingmen and to take care of themselves, their families, and their teammates.

  • Air Force 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.

  • B-1B crews validate Ellsworth's long-range strike capability

    Two B-1B Lancer aircrews flew a 30-hour, non-stop, long-range precision strike training mission from Ellsworth to strike targets on a range near Guam before landing back on base as part of a Global Power training mission, May 13 and 14.

  • Technology offers more ‘face time’ with commanders

    New advances in digital technology now allow commanders to speak directly to Airmen, despite geographical separation. The Global Content Delivery Service, or GCDS, is a real-time video moderated forum, which enables Airmen to ask questions, receive information and engage in face-to-face

  • Diversity and force management go hand-in-hand

    Force management and diversity were the two main talking points for Lt. Gen. Sam Cox, the deputy chief of staff for manpower, personnel and services, during his presentation at the Air Force Association monthly breakfast May 15th.

  • CSAF provides ‘initial feedback’ to all commanders

    All supervisors are required to provide subordinates with an initial feedback, outlining expectations, standards and goals they can both work together to achieve. Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark A. Welsh III led the way by introducing the new Air Force Instruction 1-2 “Commander’s

  • Running the globe for Parkinson's

    It is estimated more than 5 million people live with Parkinson's disease worldwide and many do not have access to the medicine that makes the symptoms of the disorder manageable. Col. Marcus Cranston, 99th Medical Group director of medical education endocrinology and preventive medicine was

  • AF senior leader: more Air Force needed

    The one thing everyone wants, and needs, is more Air Force, Undersecretary of the Air Force Eric Fanning told Airmen during a town-hall meeting and members of the Fifth Annual National Summit on Strategic Communications at the Washington Plaza Hotel recently.

  • SecAF, VCSAF outline top priority in memo to Airmen

    In a memo sent to Airmen across the service today, Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James and Vice Chief of Staff Gen. Larry Spencer challenged Airmen to take responsibility for creating cost saving initiatives within their areas of expertise.

  • Colorado ANG, Jordan: 10 years of brotherhood

    When Airmen from the Colorado Air National Guard's 140th Wing arrived May 11 as judges for exercise Eager Tiger, it marked the reunion of a partnership 10 years in the making.

  • Air Force 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.

  • SecAF honored for 30 years of service

    Secretary of the Air Force Deborah Lee James was the keynote speaker for the PenFed Foundation’s Night of Heroes Gala, May 14 and was presented the American Hero Award by the nineteenth Chief of Staff of the Air Force, retired General Norton A. Schwartz, for her 30 years of work in the private and

  • Aviano AB Airmen support Army mission to Poland

    Airmen from Aviano Air Base recently supported a series of troop movements in partnership with U.S. Army Europe's Land Forces Assurance Exercises.Aircraft services technicians assigned to 724th Air Mobility Squadron here, worked around the clock to provide air mobility operations and support to the

  • Expeditionary group wraps-up Baltic deployment

    The 48th Air Expeditionary Group handed over the reins of NATO's Baltic Air Policing mission to the air forces of Poland and the United Kingdom during a ceremony at Šiauliai Air Base, Lithuania April 30.

  • ANG unveils new senior enlisted leader management office

    The Senior Enlisted Leader Management Office was unveiled by Air National Guard Command Chief Master Sgt. James W. Hotaling to the state and wing command chiefs during the annual Command Chief's Huddle held here May 11-12.

  • PME, families, civilians focus of latest Chiefchat

    FORT MEADE, Md. (AFNS) -- Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James A. Cody answered questions from Airmen, civilians and family members during his fourth worldwide CHIEFchat at the Defense Media Activity here April 29.CHIEFchat gives Airmen around the world the chance to directly ask their questions

  • SecAF honors Airmen with leadership awards

    Secretary of the Air Force Deborah Lee James presented four Airmen with the 2014 Secretary of the Air Force Leadership Award, May 5, during ceremonies at Air University schools here.

  • Mental health: Essential to comprehensive fitness

    As Airmen begin to return from more than a decade of combat in the Middle East, and cope with the perils of war, distinguishing mental health clinics as valuable resources rather than detrimental career-enders is paramount.

  • Airmen part of international jump week

    From May 4-9 a total of 97 foreign and allied partners tested, built and strengthened partnerships during International Jump Week alongside American Airmen and Soldiers in the skies over Ramstein.

  • Family, community involvement is key theme during Welsh visit

    Traveling hundreds of miles, Betty Welsh accompanied her husband, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark A. Welsh III, on his visit to Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho, May 1-2, and spoke with Airmen and their families on important issues such as the sexual assault prevention and response program,

  • Tacoma Airman killed in Laos 44 years ago finally home

    After having been missing for more than 44 years, the remains of Air Force Capt. Douglas D. Ferguson, who was killed when his F-4D Phantom aircraft was shot down over Laos in 1969, returned home May 1 in Lakewood, Washington.

  • Air Force 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.

  • SecAF relates readiness to core values

    Secretary of the Air Force Deborah Lee James spoke May 5 at Maxwell Air Force Base about her first four months in office, the current environment, expectations and how the Air Force core values relate to her own priorities.

  • AF personnel news delivered via email

    For accurate, up to date news on Air Force personnel programs such as force management, retirements, education and development opportunities, special duty assignments, civilian careers and more, look to the Air Force Personnel Center public web, social media and news service.

  • Accountability made easy with mobile support

    To keep leadership better informed in the event of an evacuation or disaster the Air Force Personnel Accountability and Assessment System is now accessible on a smartphone in a mobile format.

  • Eyes in the sky

    Security Forces Airmen at Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, aim to enhance comprehensive base safety and security through its Small Unmanned Aircraft System, or SUAS, program.

  • Eligible officers can request assignment with foreign allied AF

    Active duty officers interested in expanding their horizons by building, sustaining, and expanding international relationships while embedded in another country's air force have until May 22 to indicate their interest on their Airman Development Plan in time for the next assignment cycle, Air Force

  • Tablet technology to aid maintenance Airmen

    A 10-member pilot test team assigned to Air Combat Command’s directorate of logistics set up shop at Shaw Air Force Base, S.C., April 28, to work with 20th Maintenance Group Airmen testing the use of iPads to view maintenance technical orders.

  • SecAF visits Airmen at Pease

    Secretary of the Air Force Deborah Lee James visited here to meet with Airmen and senior leaders of the New Hampshire Air National Guard, the 64th Air Refueling Squadron, as well as New Hampshire state representatives May 2.

  • AF medic earns Heroes of Military Medicine award

    A medic from McConnell Air Force Base received the 2014 Heroes of Military Medicine award, May 1, in Washington, D.C., for his work advancing and impacting military medicine. Senior Master Sgt. David Smith, now a career advisor with the 22nd Force Support Squadron, provided medical care for more

  • AFMAO becomes Field Operating Agency

    Air Force Mortuary Affairs Operations became a Field Operating Agency, May 1, at the Charles C. Carson Center for Mortuary Affairs, Dover Air Force Base, Del., aligning it directly under Headquarters Air Force leadership.

  • Australian air force makes home at Luke AFB

    The buildup of F-35 operations at Luke Air Force Base has begun, and the Royal Australian air force will soon be Luke's first international partner to train here on the F-35A Lightning II.

  • Comprehensive Airman Fitness gains official AFI

    Comprehensive Airman Fitness is not a new term; however, Air Force Instruction 90-506 was released April 2 and further defines requirements for CAF in an effort to enhance the resilience of individuals, families, and communities.

  • AF implements DOS rollback phase II

    The Air Force has implemented the 2014 Enlisted Date of Separation Rollback Program Phase II, Air Force Personnel Center officials said May 1.

  • Air Force 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.

  • Wounded warrior finds new place in the AF family

    Words of acceptance are etched on retired Staff Sgt. Daniel Crane's skin, right above a scar that, by itself, embodies the journey he has undertaken. The spider web of pink lines starts midway up the inside of his right arm and continues nearly to his wrist, following the path doctors took as they

  • Enlisted members interested in attaché duty must apply by June 2

    Active duty staff through senior master sergeants interested in attaché duty can apply for assignment opportunities with international affairs teams around the world, but those interested must submit their applications by June 2 to be considered, Air Force officials announced April 30.

  • Air Force secretary reports on total force balance

    Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James yesterday outlined the service’s progress in leveraging the talent and capabilities of the Air National Guard and the Air Force Reserve within the total force concept.

  • CSAF promotes balance of stewardship, capability

    The Air Force chief of staff explored the proper force ratio between the service’s active duty and reserve components in testimony before the Senate Armed Services Committee, April 29.