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  • ACC continues planning for sequestration impacts

    Air Combat Command officials continue to take actions to slow, and within the near-term dramatically restrict, fiscal 2013 spending in light of pending sequestration and a projected $1.8 billion shortfall in overseas contingency funding."We are prioritizing our efforts to sustain force structure and

  • Nellis prepares for F-35 arrival

    The 57th Wing is preparing for the arrival of four F-35 Lighting IIs Feb. 28.Arrival of the F-35s to Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., will mark the first time in the aircraft's history operational tests will be performed on the aircraft."It's the largest [Department of Defense] acquisition project in

  • Bagram Airmen move Marmal

    Airmen forward deployed from the 455th Expeditionary Aerial Port Squadron at Bagram Airfield are helping to provide a vital role in moving personnel and supplies in northern Afghanistan. Members of the 455th EAPS Detachment 3 are tasked with loading and unloading every U.S. aircraft that that comes

  • Company grade officers selected for undergrad flying training

    Several dozen lieutenants and captains have been selected for the undergraduate flying training program, Air Force Personnel Center officials said.To see the list, go to http://www.afpc.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-130213-082.pdf.The UFT annual selection board convened in January to consider

  • East Coast joint training goes international

    "Under Air-Sea Battle, we will take 'jointness' to a new level, working together to establish more integrated exercises against more realistic threats." Following those words from former Chief of Staff of the Air Force, retired Gen. Norton Schwartz and Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Jonathan

  • Photo essay: Tuskegee Airmen

    The Tuskegee Airmen were an elite group of African-American pilots in the 1940s. They were pioneers in equality and integration of the armed forces. The term "Tuskegee Airmen" refers to all who were involved in the Army Air Corps program to train African-Americans to fly and maintain combat

  • Ramstein Airmen train with Israeli air force

    The 86th Airlift Wing and 435th Contingency Response Group conducted a Flying Training Deployment with the Israeli air force's 103rd Squadron Jan. 27 to Feb. 8 here. The FTD advanced the ability of both American and Israeli air and ground crews to perform in combat operations, as well as

  • Cannon debuts latest in moving target technology

    Explosions shook the air as the white truck, almost invisible through the dust and smoke, weaved its way across a training range towing a target being shot at by 40mm rounds from aircraft patrolling the sky. Special operations Airmen from here tested the remote-controlled truck, the latest in

  • AF leaders: Sequestration, more budget cuts will be devastating

    Sequestration would leave the Air Force with untrained people, a lack of equipment and be "devastating" to the service, officials said Feb. 7.The warning echoes what Department of Defense officials have stated for months about across-the-board defense cuts, in addition to an ongoing continuing

  • Reservist enjoys dual careers

     For one airman assigned to the 386th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron, being a reservist allows her time to pursue other passions while also serving her country."It's like living two completely different lives," Senior Airman Denice Luke said. "That's why I like it so much." Luke is an

  • Leadership roundtable demonstrates solidified partnership

    While nearly 2,000 Airmen from three countries began two weeks of intense training at exercise Cope North 2013 Feb. 4, leaders from the U.S. Air Force, Japan Air Self-Defense Force and Royal Australian Air Force discussed the invaluable impact the exercise has on the readiness of their forces. Gen.

  • First F-35A four-ship flies over Eglin

     Increasing capability is becoming routine for the F-35 Lightning II team.The 58th Aircraft Maintenance Unit produced a four-turn-four for the 58th Fighter Squadron flying Jan 31. "The pilots flew four F-35As in the morning and the maintainers performed routine maintenance for airworthiness after

  • Air Force nuclear force anticipates budget constraints

    The Air Force Global Strike Command predicts budget cuts triggered by sequestration will reduce B-52 flying hours by 10 percent and lead to a 20 percent reduction in overall flying hours should the law kick in on March 1, Air Force Lt. Gen. James M. Kowalski said.Kowalski, the commander of Air Force

  • Air Force increases projected KC-46 flying hours, crew ratio

    The Air Force has increased planned life-cycle flying hours and aircrews assigned to the new KC-46A refueling tanker to make optimal use of the commercially-proven aircraft's fuel efficiency, cargo and aeromedical evacuation capabilities. Compared to the Eisenhower-era KC-135 Stratotanker, the KC-46

  • JB Charleston reservists deliver humanitarian aid to Guatemala

    Reservists from the 300th Airlift Squadron at Joint Base Charleston, S.C., traveled more than 2,700 miles to deliver about 77,000 pounds of cargo to a children's hospice facility in Guatemala Feb. 3.The Airmen loaded a C-17 Globemaster III aircraft with a donated school bus and supplies acquired

  • NJ Airmen among first on ground, supporting French operations in Africa

    More than 100 Airmen from the 621st Contingency Response Wing, located here and at Travis Air Force Base, Calif., are currently supporting airlift missions transporting French soldiers and military equipment from Istres, France, to Bamako, Mali.The 621st CRW, often the first on the ground, is

  • Through Airmen's Eyes: F-22 pilot physician takes safety to new heights

    (This feature is part of the "Through Airmen's Eyes" series on AF.mil. These stories focus on a single Airman, highlighting their Air Force story.) Powerful thrust, paired with unparalleled agility, propels the grey fighter jet through the sky, in ways unfathomable to earlier generations of

  • Through Airmen's Eyes: The Stoks standard

    (This feature is part of the "Through Airmen's Eyes" series on AF.mil. These stories focus on a single Airman, highlighting their Air Force story.)In six months Staff Sgt. Ryan Stoks expedited more than 413 missions and moved more than 18 million pounds of cargo to set new aerial port expeditor

  • Through Airmen's Eyes: Airman struggles back from rare illness

    (This feature is part of the "Through Airmen's Eyes" series on AF.mil. These stories focus on a single Airman, highlighting their Air Force story.)Imagine having to relearn all the things you learned as kid: how to eat, how to walk, how to talk. Imagine how frustrated and devastated you would

  • Red Flag 'rocks on'

    Airmen and aircraft from around the world as well as their coalition counterparts descended on Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada for Exercise Red Flag 13-2 Jan. 21 through Feb. 1.Red Flag exercises are designed to help U.S. and international airmen prepare for real-world combat scenarios.Click the

  • Michigan base to test missile counter-measure prototype

    The Air National Guard has begun installing a new prototype missile counter-measure device on aircraft at Selfridge Air National Guard Base. If tests on the prototype conclude favorably, as expected, the device could mean safer travels for KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft and additional job security for

  • AF selects primary, alternate test pilot school candidates

    More than 50 Air Force officers have been selected as primary or alternate Air Force and Navy test pilot school selectees, and one will attend the Epner Test Pilot School in France, Air Force Personnel Center officials said today."Selectees, identified during the 2012 selection board, will fill July

  • Waterproof: Missile Retrievers not afraid to dive in

    When the weather forecast calls for tall waves, mean currents and high winds in the Gulf, the last thing most people want to do is jump into it. For Ray Gallien and Steve Shafer, two of the commercial divers aboard the 82nd Aerial Targets Squadron's three Missile Retriever boats, it sometimes

  • It takes a team: Airmen contribute to Kingpin success

    The Air Force's mission in Southwest Asia has many components, one of which is little known, yet vital to mission success. Airmen with the 727th Expeditionary Air Control Squadron, also known as "Kingpin," provide the information that allows successful completion of the Air Tasking Order, a 24-hour

  • Program officer visits integrated F-35 testing facility

    Members of the F-35 Integrated Test Force showcased their accomplishments in the developmental test program to the F-35 Lightning II Joint Program executive officer during his vist here Jan. 22.This was Lt. Gen. Christopher C. Bogdan's first visit to the ITF since his assumption of the role in

  • Airmen gear up for largest B-1 modification

    Members of the 337th Test and Evaluation Squadron are gearing up for the largest B-1 Lancer modification in program history, as part of the Integrated Battle Station and Sustainment-Block 16 upgrade. Because of the magnitude of this upgrade, additional work is being done to make sure members of the

  • Family of missing pilot expresses optimism for his safe return

    "If anyone could survive something like this, it would be Luc," she said.Cassy Gruenther spoke the words with full confidence sitting on the couch of her home in northeast Italy. Her husband, Capt. Lucas Gruenther, 32, has been missing since officials at Aviano Air Base, Italy, lost contact with the

  • Medical Airmen get global 'real world' training

    Flight technicians and flight nurses from around the globe come to the Aeromedical Evacuation Formal Training Unit (AEFTU) at Pope Army Airfield, N.C., to receive hands on training for medical evacuations. The school house has been open for two years and has already trained many medical technicians

  • Air National Guard director retires

    Lt. Gen. Harry M. Wyatt III, Air National Guard director, retired after more than 40 years of military service during a ceremony Tuesday hosted by Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin at Joint Base Andrews, Md.The Air Force Chief of Staff Air Gen. Mark A. Welsh III, the Chief of the National Guard Bureau Army

  • Aviano augments search for missing pilot

    The 31st Fighter Wing launched several of its F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft Jan. 30 to join the ongoing search effort for a U.S. Air Force fighter pilot who was declared missing during a nighttime training mission Jan. 28.The fighter jets will provide further assistance to the robust rescue

  • Academy grad, reservist suits up for Super Bowl

    An Air Force Academy graduate and San Francisco 49ers wide receiver arrived in New Orleans Jan. 27 for Super Bowl XLVII.Chad Hall, an Air Force reservist, was signed to the 49ers practice squad Nov. 27 for scout team duty, wearing No. 14. He was released Dec. 14 as the team juggled its active and

  • Air Force continues support to France in Mali

    The U.S. Air Force continues to back French air operations in Mali through refueling efforts, logistical movements, troop transport and information sharing, Pentagon Press Secretary George Little said Jan. 29."Since French operations began Jan. 11, the U.S. has been sharing intelligence with the

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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

  • Retired officer describes personal impact of King's ideals

    A retired officer who blazed trails in her Air Force career told the audience at the Pentagon's 28th annual observance of the holiday honoring Martin Luther King Jr. Jan. 24 that she drew inspiration from the slain civil rights leader.Retired Maj. Gen. Marcelite J. Harris, who left the service in

  • 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

  • Through Airmen's Eyes: The Airman and James Bond

    (Editor's Note:This feature is part of the "Through Airmen's Eyes" series on AF.mil. These stories focus on a single Airman, highlighting their Air Force story.)Quartermaster "Q" supplied Skyfall's 50-year anniversary James Bond with a radio and a Walther PPK handgun, but Sean Connery's 007 relied

  • 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

  • '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

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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

  • State of the AF is 'strong'

    The Air Force's top leaders said today the service has accomplished much while dealing with many challenges in the last year.Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley and Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark A. Welsh III briefed members of the media here on the state of the service and its focus on

  • 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

  • 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

  • Air Force announces KC-46A candidate bases

    The Air Force announced Altus Air Force Base, Okla. and McConnell AFB, Kan., as candidate bases for the KC-46A formal training unit (FTU) today. Altus AFB, Fairchild AFB, Wash., Grand Forks AFB, N.D., and McConnell AFB, are candidate bases for the first active-duty led KC-46A main operating base

  • The most fearsome weapon is evolving

    The first MC-130J Commando II to be converted into Air Force Special Operations Command's newest variant of the gunship, the AC-130J Ghostrider arrived at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. Modifications to the airframe will be completed in 10 months and will be a milestone in the recapitalization of the

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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

  • AF legal team advises Afghans

    Members of the 451st Air Expeditionary Wing here are helping the Afghan air force Kandahar air wing leadership and legal office implement military justice and hold the wing's servicemembers accountable to military standards. Maj. Deanna Daly, Staff Judge Advocate for the 451st AEW, and her

  • 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

  • Air Force Marathon has record opening day registration

    The Air Force Marathon filled a third of its 15,000 runner slots on the first day of registration, breaking last year's registration opening record. More than 5,100 runners registered for the 2013 event on Jan. 1, taking advantage of special New Year's Resolution discounts that were available only

  • Airman January 2013 - available now!

    In the latest issue of Airman magazine, our "Bird of Prey" feature highlights the F-22 Raptor, which brings never-before-seen capabilities to aerial warfare.The F-22 Raptor, the Air Force's preeminent fighter aircraft, provides the United States unrivaled dominance in the air with its

  • 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

  • Lt. Gen. Clarke confirmed as Director, Air National Guard

    Lt. Gen. Stanley E. "Sid" Clarke III, commander of the Continental U.S. North American Aerospace Defense Command Region and 1st Air Force, has been confirmed by the Senate to be the next director of the Air National Guard.Clarke will replace Lt. Gen. Harry "Bud" Wyatt, who is retiring this month.

  • Separate paths bring brothers together for Christmas

    Up until a few days ago, Staff Sgt. Derek Allen hadn't seen his brother, Army Cpl. Greg Allen, in a long time. However, an interesting twist of fate spurred their separate services to bring them together here for the Christmas holidays."Both of us being here in (Afghanistan) is the closest we have

  • Through Airmen's Eyes: High school reunion ... above Afghanistan

    (This feature is part of the "Through Airmen's Eyes" series on AF.mil. These stories focus on a single Airman, highlighting their Air Force story.)In 2001, three students -- each in a different grade -- shared the halls and classrooms of DuBois Area High School in rural Pennsylvania.This month,

  • 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

  • Alaskan NORAD Region keeps Santa safe, on schedule

    Children around the world know the role the North American Aerospace Defense Command, or NORAD, plays in tracking Santa's Christmas Eve flight around the world. What many don't know is the role an organization in Alaska plays in ensuring Santa makes his deliveries.U.S. and Canadian servicemembers of

  • AF Reservists deliver humanitarian supplies to the Caribbean

    Reservists from the 315th Airlift Wing delivered more than 38,000 pounds of humanitarian aid to the island nations of St. Lucia and Haiti Dec. 15 and 16.The missions involved two C-17 Globemaster III aircraft delivering humanitarian aid, medical and school supplies, food and construction equipment

  • Air Force Marathon registration to open with special discount

    Registration for the 2013 Air Force Marathon will open Jan. 1, 2013, with special New Year's resolution discounts. The full and half marathons will be discounted by $10 Jan. 1. The 10K and 5K races will be discounted by $5."We encourage all participants to register as early as possible," said race

  • Engineering research psychologist receives Harold Brown Award

    A senior engineering research psychologist received the 2012 Harold Brown research and development award from Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley during a Pentagon ceremony Dec. 17. Dr. Mark H. Draper, from the 711th Human Performance Wing at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, received the

  • 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

  • AETC declares Eglin ready for F-35 training

    Following an independent evaluation of Eglin's capability to conduct F-35A Lightning II pilot training, Air Education and Training Command announced Dec. 17 that the 33rd Fighter Wing can do so starting January 2013. "The preliminary results provided by the Joint Operational Test Team show the F-35A

  • 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

  • Linebacker II Remembrance Ceremony

    The annual Linebacker II Remembrance Ceremony was held at the Arc Light Memorial Park here Dec. 14 to honor the heroes that made the ultimate sacrifice in support of Operation Linebacker II.Operation Linebacker II, also referred to as the "11-Day War," was conducted from Dec. 18, 1972 to Dec. 29,

  • Lt. Gen. Clarke nominated as Director, Air National Guard

    Lt. Gen. Stanley E. Clarke III, commander of the Continental U.S. North American Aerospace Defense Command Region - 1st Air Force, has been nominated by President Obama to be the next director of the Air National Guard.If confirmed by the Senate, Clarke will replace Lt. Gen. Harry "Bud" Wyatt III.,

  • Through Airmen's Eyes: Hickam Field survivor's journey 'home' for last time

    (This feature is part of the "Through Airmen's Eyes" series on AF.mil. These stories focus on a single Airman, highlighting their Air Force story.)For the final time, retired Senior Master Sgt. Raymond Lee Perry has returned "home" to Hickam Field. Seventy-one years to the day, Dec. 7, 2012, Perry's

  • 'Today's Air Force' reviews rescue at sea, Thunderbird memorial restoration

    Air Force Television News released a new edition of Today's Air Force on Dec. 10.On this episode's "Straight from the Top," acting Undersecretary of the Air Force, Jamie Morin speaks about the importance of technological and organizational advances the Air Force has made in space. Next, viewers join

  • Through Airmen's Eyes: Boom operator reaches 7,500 flying hour milestone

    (This feature is part of the "Through Airmen's Eyes" series on AF.mil. These stories focus on a single Airman, highlighting their Air Force story.)Master Sgt. Todd Buit, the 92nd Operations Group standards evaluations NCO in charge and career boom operator, reached for the sky and broke records in

  • Arc Light marked beginning of B-52 involvement in Vietnam

    Editor's Note: This is the first in a series of articles highlighting the B-52's involvement in the Vietnam Conflict up to Operation Linebacker II. The 40th Anniversary of Linebacker II takes place Dec. 18-29.By 1972, the war in Vietnam had persisted for more than eight years, characterized by a

  • Japanese aircrew learn advanced airlift tactics in Missouri

    A sky blue military aircraft with red Japanese flag markings is an odd sight in the Midwest.Yet, Airmen at the Missouri Air National Guard training center here are used to such foreign sights.The Advanced Airlift Tactics Training Center at the 139th Airlift Wing instructs service members from other

  • Hickam Field's killed in action honored

    Only 92 of the original 189 Army Air Forces Airmen killed at Hickam Field during the Dec. 7, 1941, attacks on military installations of Oahu remain on the island where war found them when they weren't looking for it. A group of 10 Hickam Airmen, teenagers, spouses and a Sailor volunteered to make

  • Pearl Harbor: Air Force legacy on day that would 'live in infamy'

    "It was the first time I had ever seen a plunging dive bomber and it was an awesome sight. Nothing in warfare is more frightening," said Pvt. Wilfred D. Burke, 72d Pursuit Squadron, Wheeler Field, whose experience in the attacks on Pearl Harbor are recorded in "7 December 1941: The Air Force Story"

  • 'Sir, tell the TACP thanks'

    On 13 May 2010, an Airman First Class taught me some lessons I'll never forget. I think of Airman 1st Class Corey Hughes almost every week. His actions on that particular day in May remind me to focus on others first, that heroic leaders exist among us all the time, and doing the right thing takes

  • Airmen save AF more than a million dollars

    The 437th Aerial Port Squadron Load Planning Airmen answered the call when the Air Mobility Command Fuel Efficiency Office asked AMC aerial port squadrons to maximize fuel usage aboard C-17 Globemaster III's and other air frames using a new initiative called precession loading.Before the initiative

  • KC-135 crew on point in Afghan skies

    From the window of her "office," Senior Airman Brittany Bahner breathes deeply and takes in the view of the brown, arid expanse near Kandahar Province, Afghanistan. She waits patiently, lying prone in the boom pod at the rear of the KC-135 Stratotanker, while communicating through her headset with

  • From NY streets to Afghan skies, FDNY crew saves lives

    Four New York City firefighters, four Airmen, four friends, one team, one HH-60 Pave Hawk -- one crew -- deployed together with the 26th Expeditionary Rescue Squadron to Camp Bastion, Afghanistan, bringing a unique flavor of New York Fire Departments with them.Capt. Shaun Cullen, Capt. Tripp

  • Deployed father controls airspace over son in Afghanistan

    Maj. Christopher Gering worries like any other parent whose child deploys downrange. It can be gut wrenching knowing his child operates outside the wire, working to clear and dispose of improvised explosive devices.Since August, this proud parent has had an advantage most parents are not afforded

  • General Paul Selva takes command of Air Mobility Command

    Gen. Paul J. Selva became commander of Air Mobility Command in a change-of-command ceremony here today, as the legacy of leading global mobility operations was passed to him from Gen. Raymond E. Johns Jr.Selva comes to AMC from Headquarters Pacific Air Forces, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii,

  • SecAF declares 'Modernization can't wait'

    The Air Force's senior civilian addressed the importance of modernization and the challenges ahead for the Air Force at the 2012 Aerospace and Defense Investor Conference here Nov. 29."Among the most difficult challenges facing the Air Force is the need to modernize our aging aircraft inventory as

  • Airmen conduct rescue off the Coast of Mexico

    Air National Guardsmen from the 129th Rescue Wing successfully completed a complex, overwater rescue of an injured ship hand from a Marshall Islands flagged merchant vessel approximately 300 miles off the coast of Mexico on Nov, 29. The 129th Rescue Wing received a call from the U.S. Coast Guard

  • 'Space junk' growing issue for AF space operations

    Members of the 1st and 7th Space Operations Squadron took notice when an upper stage Russian rocket disintegrated in low earth orbit Oct. 16. The break up introduced an estimated 500 pieces of debris into an area where the U.S. operates a multitude of satellites, further congesting an already

  • AMC team wins top CSAF 'Team of Excellence' award

    The Air Mobility Command Electronic Flight Bag Team from Scott Air Force Base, Ill., won the 2012 Chief of Staff Team Excellence Award awarded by the Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark A. Welsh III Nov. 28 at the Pentagon.Each year, since its inception in 1992, the Chief of Staff Team Excellence

  • Deployed structural maintainers 'do it all'

    When a homeowner needs to redo a wall, repair the roof, and re-key a lock, several calls must be made.The Air Force only has to make one.Structural maintainers are "like the carpenters, welders, roofers and handymen, kind of all rolled up into one," said Tech. Sgt. Howard Jones, 380th Expeditionary

  • Through Airmen's Eyes: Airman returns 'home' to help recover MIAs

    (This feature is part of the "Through Airmen's Eyes" series on AF.mil. These stories focus on a single Airman, highlighting their Air Force story.)An officer stationed at Grand Forks Air Force Base traveled thousands of miles earlier this year to return to his birth country of Vietnam for the first

  • Keen Sword: One team, one fight

    For four days, the U.S. and Japan Air Self-Defense Force pilots went through countless briefings and motivational speeches. On Nov. 8, 2012, more than 30 pilots sat in their jets, side-by-side, and waited for the crew chiefs to give them the signal to taxi-out. It was time to take to the skies.Keen