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  • Air Commandos remember STRAY 59

    No matter how painful it is to remember or how easy it is to forget, one special operations squadron makes it a priority each year to remember its heritage and to honor those before its members now who paid the ultimate sacrifice. As an annual salute to their fallen comrades, a crew from the 1st

  • Airmen build key Africa partnerships

    Eight U.S. Air Force members of the 818th Mobility Support Advisory Squadron recently deployed to Cameroon to take part in Central Accord 13, February 20 - March 1. The mission of the 621st Contingency Response Wing, Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J.-based air advisors took them to the

  • Hazel Ying Lee: Showcased Asian-American involvement in war effort

    The Asian and Pacific island influence for the Air Force began during the early days of World War II when Chinese-American women were recruited to serve in the "Air WACs," a special unit within the Army Air Corps where Asian-American women served in jobs that ranged from aerial photo interpretation,

  • Service chiefs ask congress for fiscal help

    The senior officers from the Air Force, Army, Navy and Marine Corps asked Congress March 5 for more spending flexibility so they can maintain military readiness as the sequester's across-the-board budget cuts take effect.Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark A. Welsh III, Army Chief of Staff Gen.

  • Innovative teaching idea saves Air Force $1.1 million

    An idea by the 982nd Training Group to make formal military instructor training available at field training detachments has saved the Air Force more than $1.1 million in temporary duty expenditures so far in fiscal year 2013.The FTD version of the Principles of Instruction course, or POI, was

  • F-35s cleared to resume flight

    F-35 Lightning IIs were cleared for flight Feb. 28 following a temporary suspension after a cracked engine blade was found in a test aircraft earlier in the month. A .06-inch crack was discovered in a third-stage turbine blade in a test aircraft at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., Feb. 19.

  • Airmen adapt aerial port procedures to be more effective, efficient

    The 451st Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron members recently re-evaluated their processes and procedures and decided it was time to fine tune the way they operate and move cargo here.Maj. Philip Shields, the former 451st ELRS Aerial Port Flight commander and Senior Master Sgt. Daniel Spain,

  • President nominates 1st female Air Force Academy superintendent

    The president of the United States nominated Maj. Gen. Michelle Johnson for the appointment to the rank of lieutenant general and for assignment to serve as Air Force Academy's 19th superintendent. If confirmed by the Senate, Johnson would become the first woman to hold the position.Currently

  • Two women, different backgrounds, one goal

    Two women, from opposite economic, social and cultural backgrounds, earned common ground during the early days of World War II and set a path in aviation that would steamroll into women's boundless roles today. Jacqueline Cochran was born in 1906 in a cotton-fields-and-sawmill small town in western

  • Pentagon lifts F-35 grounding following inspections

    The Defense Department lifted its grounding of the F-35 Lightning II joint strike fighter after analysis concluded that a cracked turbine blade in an engine on a single plane resulted from overuse in test operations, according to an official with the F-35 Joint Program Office.In an email statement,

  • AF personnel chief: 'sequestration sends wrong signal to workforce'

    The Air Force's top personnel chief testified to Congress on the impact to military end strength in a budget constrained environment on Capitol Hill Feb. 27 during a House Armed Services Subcommittee military personnel hearing.Lt. Gen. Darrell D. Jones, the Air Force deputy chief of staff for

  • AF leaders warn of sequester impacts on replacing an aging fleet

    Two senior Air Force leaders here this week warned of the impacts sequestration and a continuing resolution will have on the service's acquisitions and programs. Lt. Gens. Michael Moeller, the deputy chief of staff for strategic plans and programs, and Charles Davis, the military deputy, office of

  • Pacific Air Forces wins highest AF safety award

    Pacific Air Forces earned the Secretary of the Air Force Safety Award, Feb. 12, recognizing the most effective safety program in the Air Force for fiscal 2012. "Receiving this top safety award is a testament to our professional Airmen, both on and off duty," said Lt. Gen. Stanley Kresge, the PACAF

  • Original part from B-17F Memphis Belle® returns home

    Young Airman Ralph Barrett had no idea what that strange looking part he had found in Memphis was, but it looked interesting so he picked it up and decided to hang onto it.The part eventually made it to his tool box at home and remained there unseen for more than 40 years. But according to Barrett,

  • Series showcases daily examples of women's accomplishments

    On Friday, March 1, we begin a month-long recognition of women's contributions to our Air Force, putting a blue perspective to the 2013 National Women's Project theme of "women inspiring innovation through imagination." The 31-day www.af.mil series will showcase a profile each day of a woman or

  • AF awards light air support aircraft contract

    The Air Force today awarded a $427,459,708.00 contract to Sierra Nevada Corp. to provide light air support aircraft and associated maintenance and training for the Afghan air force.Under this contract, 20 aircraft are scheduled to be delivered to operational air bases in Afghanistan beginning in the

  • CSAF discusses impact of sequester

    America's military superiority is founded on training and readiness, and the fiscal crisis facing the country threatens to strip away that edge, members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff told Congress Feb. 26.Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark A. Welsh III, along with Army Chief of Staff Gen. Ray

  • Maintainers turn packing into profession

    Regardless of where you go throughout your military career, your equipment will follow.An elite group of Airmen are charged with ensuring that same equipment reaches its destination safely."Packing aircraft and vehicles safely and sensibly is extremely important and sometimes a bit time consuming,"

  • Yeager brings 'Right Stuff' to symposium

    The first person ever to travel faster than the speed of sound didn't know anything about airplanes when he enlisted in the Army Air Corps in September 1941. But retired Brig. Gen. Chuck Yeager did have a knack for fixing machines and a willingness to do whatever his duty required of him and to take

  • Academy glider instructor named most active in nation

    For Mark Matticola, a civilian soaring instructor pilot assigned to the 94th Flying Training Squadron, being recognized as the most active glider instructor in the nation by the Soaring Society of America was easy. "I get paid to do my hobby every day," said Matticola, who was recognized earlier

  • Transit Center maintainers keep C-17s mission-ready

    When two out of four of the Transit Center at Manas' mission pillars rely on the C-17 Globemaster III, it's important those aircraft are ready to fly. The Airmen assigned to the 728th Air Mobility Squadron Operating Location-Alpha are responsible for maintenance of the C-17, ensuring the aircraft

  • CSAF, CMSAF kickoff AFA Orlando, leave few dry eyes

    Two senior Air Force leaders addressed more than 500 people at the Air Force Association's 29th Air Warfare Symposium & Technology Exposition here Feb. 21, 2013.Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark. A. Welsh III and Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James Cody took to the stage with several points to

  • Air Force units help recover diverted Navy aircraft

    Airmen from units deployed in support of Cope North 13 transported an R-11 refueling truck on a C-130 Hercules aircraft from here to Rota Island Feb. 13, to recover a Navy F/A-18 Hornet that diverted there due to weather a day prior.With the combined effort of Airmen from the 374th Aircraft

  • Cadets work to decrease bird strikes

    A group of U.S. Air Force Academy cadets is working to put a dent in bird strikes that are  directly linked to the deaths of 250 people in 25 years and the cause of more than $700 million in damage to military-owned aircraft annually. "The impetus behind this capstone course is the devastating cost

  • 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