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  • F-35 reaches critical juncture after strong year, official says

    The F-35 Lightning II joint strike fighter program -- the centerpiece of future tactical aviation and a key to implementing new military strategic guidance -- made strong progress in its development last year, a defense official said today.Frank Kendall, the acting undersecretary of defense for

  • Pilot safe in Kunsan AB F-16 crash

    An Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon crashed near Kunsan Air Base, South Korea, during a routine training mission March 21. The aircraft, assigned to the 36th Fighter Squadron here, was flying a mission as part of the 51st Fighter Wing's ongoing exercise. The pilot safely ejected from the single seat

  • U.S. Airman increases Afghan AF capability

    Aircraft are useless without proper maintenance, pilots and the fuel needed to feed the beast.One senior NCO is working to improve the capabilities of the Afghan air force one fuel sample at a time.U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Jeremiah Fentress, a fuels flight advisor with the 439th Air Expeditionary

  • Air Force changes name of MC-130J

    Officials announced a popular name change for the MC130J here March 9 that honors the Air Commando legacy and capitalizes on the versatility of the aircraft. "Air Force Special Operation Command MC-130Js will be equipped to fly various missions and will be called Commando II," said Lt. Gen. Eric

  • Exchange program enriches safety of aviation community

    Two international officers assigned to the Air Force Safety Center's Aviation Safety Division have bolstered their countries' aviation safety program by working side-by-side with their U.S. Air Force partners.German Air Force Lt. Col. Rudi Stein and Royal Canadian Air Force Maj. Peter Laurin agree

  • U.S.-Thailand-Singapore Airmen strengthen ties during Cope Tiger 12

    Airmen from the U.S., Thailand, and Singapore are stepping away from flight operations to strengthen relationships here with local Thai communities this week.The combined Airmen from the U.S. Air Force, Royal Thai Air Force and Republic of Singapore Air Force are participating in exercise Cope

  • NATO allies synch communication

    The Turkish and U.S. air forces successfully synched a communication system together during the bilateral training exercise Anatolian Falcon 2012 here March 13.Link 16 is a communication network developed to integrate signal detection into a data transfer shared among all members of the

  • U.S., Turkish air forces complete Anatolian Falcon 2012

    Anatolian Falcon 2012, a bilateral training exercise between the Turkish and U.S. air forces, ended here March 16.The exercise was designed to strengthen military interoperability between the two nations and test the air forces' abilities to conduct a variety of air missions to include interdiction,

  • One year later: Response by Airmen for Operation Tomodachi 'unprecedented'

    When the island nation of Japan was struck with an 8.9-magnitude earthquake and subsequent tsunami on March 11, 2011, the world answered the call with an unprecedented response -- and so did mobility and contingency Airmen. Among those leading the worldwide effort that delivered aid and support to

  • Fallen pilot 'has come home'

    The pilot of a U-28A aircraft that crashed near Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, on Feb. 18 was laid to rest at the Air Force Academy Cemetery on March 12.Capt. Ryan Hall, 30, was a native of Colorado Springs and the son of 1970 Academy graduate Dennis Hall."By the size of the turnout, you can see Ryan

  • AF marathon registration deadline approaching

    If you're planning on running in the Air Force Marathon this September, time is running out to register. Not only does the price increase on April 2, there is a good chance the event will also be sold out by then."We traditionally experience a huge surge in registrations prior to a price increase,"

  • Total force tanker team sharpens skills at Red Flag

    Aerial refuelers sharpen their skills through joint, allied and total force integration during Red Flag 12-3."The teamwork of active duty, Air National Guard and Reserve units has been outstanding," said Master Sgt. Randy Bishop, 91st Air Refueling Squadron chief boom operator out of MacDill AFB,

  • Langley Airmen test new fuel delivery system

    Airmen at Langley Air Force Base, Va., are testing a new fuel delivery system that could revolutionize flightline operations and save the Air Force millions of dollars.Senior Master Sgt. Patrick Smith, 633rd Logistics Readiness Squadron fuels management superintendent, said the new Hydrant Mobile

  • Calif. ANG: Complex pararescue mission saves fishermen off Mexico coast

    California Air National Guardsmen from the 129th Rescue Wing based here successfully completed the rescue of two injured fishermen from a Chinese fishing vessel 700 miles off the coast of Acapulco, Mexico, March 12, 2012. The 129th Rescue Wing received a call from the U.S. Coast Guard March 9

  • Cope Tiger trilateral exercise in full swing

    Readiness and continued development of multilateral interoperability remains a key priority for allies and partners participating in Cope Tiger 12, a field training and large force air employment exercise that began here Mar. 12.During the two-week exercise, more than 1,600 combined service members

  • AF Undersecretary visits Travis

    Undersecretary of the Air Force Erin Conaton visited here March 8 to receive a first-hand look at Travis operations, which consists of the 60th Air Mobility Wing, the 349th Air Mobility Wing and the 615th Contingency Response Wing - a total integrated force that makes up one of the Air Force's

  • Global Eagle combines AF, British forces

    The historical partnership between U.S. and British forces was evident yet again through a combined exercise between U.S. Air Force and Royal Air Force Regiment Feb. 26 through March 2. Defenders from the 820th Base Defense Group and tactical air control parties from the 3rd and 18th Air Support

  • Iraqi air chief sees son graduate U.S. Air Force pilot training

    The top generals from the U.S. Air Force and Iraq Air Force united here March 9 to award silver wings to 23 of the countries' newest pilots. Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz and Iraqi Air Force Commander Staff Lt. Gen. Anwer Hamad Amin Ahmad were the keynote speakers at the graduation

  • U.S. pilots plant SEAD with Turkish counterparts

    The Turkish and U.S. air forces continue to combine their air assets and share tactics in large-force employments during Exercise Anatolian Falcon 2012 here March 5-16.During LFE exercises, units oftentimes take advantage of the high number of aircraft participating to test mass communication

  • Air mobility maintainers help Air Force cut down fuel costs

    Air mobility maintainers are helping to secure the future by becoming more fuel efficient, officials said. Maintenance professionals are working to avoid future expenses by lightening loads on KC-135 Stratotankers and C-5 Galaxies; they're also cutting back on use of gas-guzzling aircraft auxiliary

  • Langley tests new fuel delivery system

    Airmen here are testing a new fuel delivery system that officials say could revolutionize flightline operations and save the Air Force millions of dollars.The new Hydrant Mobile Refueler has been in development for roughly a year and a half, and it could be implemented throughout the Air Force in

  • Eglin AFB conducts first F-35 launch

    No matter what uniform they wear, service members of the 33rd Fighter Wing know the launch of the first F-35 Lightning II flight here March 6 is a small step into the next half century of air dominance.Morale was high even though the sortie was abbreviated by the pilot's determination of "in flight

  • Maintainer plies his trade in Afghanistan

    (This feature is part of the "Through Airmen's Eyes" series on AF.mil. These stories and commentaries focus on a single Airman, highlighting their Air Force story.)The anatomy of an aircraft system contains miles of wire, thousands of sensors, hundreds of dials, indicators and many switches.Like a

  • Air Force leaders discuss modernization in budget hearing

    Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley and Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz outlined the service's modernization efforts during testimony to the House Appropriations Committee's Subcommittee on Defense here March 6."Modernization is our most significant concern, especially as our

  • Anatolian Falcon 2012 builds strength, sharpens skills

    The Turkish and U.S. air forces continue to successfully integrate their capabilities during Anatolian Falcon 2012 here March 6.The first four missions of the two-week exercise are through, and the two NATO allies are learning to better communicate with each other and combine their strengths."I

  • AF officials announce manpower force structure changes

    Air Force officials released force structure changes and resulting manpower impacts from the new DoD strategic guidance and fiscal 2013 President's Budget Mar. 6.The fiscal 2013 President's Budget adjusts Air Force military end strength to 501,000, with net reductions of 3,900 Active Duty, 5,100 Air

  • Turkey, U.S. kick off international weapons training exercise

    An international weapons-training deployment involving Turkish and U.S. air forces began here March 5 and lasts until March 15.The 480th Fighter Squadron from Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, and the Turkish air force's 3rd Main Jet Base combined their efforts during Anatolian Falcon 2012, an exercise

  • VCSAF discusses benefits, uniforms, F-35 while at Luke

    The Air Force's vice chief of staff addressed a packed house during an Airmen's Call here March 2.Gen. Phil Breedlove, who visited Luke AFB for two days, covered a variety of issues during the all-call, to include military benefits, the F-35 Lightning II, and uniform policy.Breedlove began by

  • U.S./ROK forces show off air power

    Not even the sun had a chance to rise before Airmen here began their work during a combined combat generation exercise, March 2, between United States and Republic of Korea air forces."The purpose of the exercise today is to test the ability of our team to execute our combat mission at a moment's

  • Critical care transport team continues to save lives

    Since mid-January, the newly formed all-Air Force Critical Care Air Transport Team with the 651st Expeditionary Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron or EAES at Camp Bastion, Afghanistan has been saving lives, whether they're U.S. troops, local nationals, or coalition partners."A life is a life," said

  • Global Strike commander: Nuclear deterrence fundamental to national security

    The commander of Air Force Global Strike Command visited here recently to discuss the command's mission and its significance to Air Force operations. Lt. Gen. Jim Kowalski spoke to students from the Air War College, School of Advanced Air and Space Studies, and Air Command and Staff College.AFGSC's

  • Airmen plan peer-to-peer engagements to prevent mishaps

    Members of the 2012 Airman-to-Airman Safety Advisory Council convened Feb. 14-16 at the Air Force Safety Center to plan communication strategies to share the consequences of their experiences and help others avoid repeating the same mistakes. A2A began in 2010 and gives young Airmen the opportunity

  • Air Force Museum offers virtual tour

    The National Museum of the U.S. Air Force Virtual Tour is now fully embedded with audio and video hotspots, and touch-screen devices, offering online visitors the opportunity to experience the entire museum.Located at www.nmusafvirtualtour.com, the final two areas to be embedded -- the Cold War

  • Multinational team upgrades Afghan base security

    A multinational joint team of U.S. and Italian airmen and soldiers partnered to execute a special equipment transfer from Shindand Air Base, Afghanistan, to the small forward operating base of Buji, Afghanistan, Feb. 6-8, 2012.Airmen from the 838th Air Expeditionary Advisory Group, Soldiers from

  • Fifth generation fighters crucial to air superiority

    The Air Force is the world's most advanced air and space force and, with the integration of fifth generation aircraft, is gaining new tactical advantages that transcend beyond just stealth into areas such as enhanced maneuverability, multi-role capabilities and fused sensor and avionics systems that

  • AF leaders: FY 13 budget maintains quality, ready force

    Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley and Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz met with members of the House Armed Services Committee here Feb. 28 to discuss key components of the service's fiscal 2013 budget request."The budget request represents the culmination of many hard decisions

  • Schwartz: Smaller Air Force will concentrate on key capabilities

    As the Air Force gets smaller in the years to come, it will have to emphasize the areas that will be the most relevant to defense, the Air Force chief of staff said here today.Gen. Norton A. Schwartz told the Defense Writers Group that as budgets drop, the Air Force must concentrate on four basic

  • TRANSCOM continues mission despite challenges, commander says

    U.S. Transportation Command continues to meet all of its obligations to military combatant commanders and warfighters despite increasingly tighter budgets and an access dispute with Pakistan, the organization's commander told a congressional panel here yesterday.Air Force Gen. William M. Fraser III

  • Ohio Airmen help F-16 go 'green'

    In a joint effort by Airmen from the Air Force Research Laboratory at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, and Airmen from the Ohio Air National Guard's 180th Fighter Wing, the F-16 Fight Falcon is currently undergoing a field service evaluation of biofuel.As the largest consumer of energy in the

  • Air Force issues flight release for Eglin AFB F-35A

    Officials at the Aeronautical Systems Center here issued a Military Flight Release today that will allow the F-35A Lightning II fighter to begin initial operations at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla.This decision was reached after an airworthiness board conducted an assessment that evaluated potential

  • Air Force announces OTS selection board results

    An unprecedented 100 percent of enlisted active-duty members who applied for Officer Training School were accepted by the OTS Rated Selection Board 12OT01, officials here announced today. A total of 215 men and women, including 30 enlisted active duty members, from across America have earned an

  • Air Force firefighter saves police officer's life

    A firefighter from Holloman Air Force Base saved the life of a San Antonio police officer Feb. 19 while on leave visiting his family.For Staff Sgt. Lionel Garcia, who works with the 49th Civil Engineer Squadron here, putting out building, aircraft, automobile or brush fires is just another day in

  • CMSAF Roy: Developing Airmen key to future success

    Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James Roy emphasized the evolution of training Airmen before a crowd of approximately 400 Airmen, industry officials and Air Force Association members here Feb. 24.Roy, who spoke on the second day of the Air Force Association's 2012 Air Warfare Symposium and

  • Air Force Band connects with Philippines' audiences

    The U.S. Air Force Band of the Pacific performed for approximately 11,000 visitors during the Philippines International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta Feb. 9-12 at Clark Field here. The four-day event is in its 17th year and is part of a U.S. Pacific Command initiative designed to demonstrate the U.S.'s

  • AF firefighter saves police officer's life

    Staff Sgt. Lionel Garcia, a 49th Civil Engineer Squadron firefighter, saved the life of a San Antonio police officer Feb. 19, while on leave visiting his family.For Garcia, putting out building, aircraft, automobile or brush fires is just another day in the office; but thanks to his firefighter

  • Vietnam War rescue pilot goes on to command space shuttle

    African Americans blazed trails even beyond the stratosphere, as seen in the achievements of retired Col. Frederick D. Gregory, a former Air Force combat rescue pilot and NASA astronaut.After graduating from the Air Force Academy in 1964, Gregory entered pilot training and attended undergraduate

  • Collaborative effort in making force structure changes

    Air Force total force officials discussed the strategic planning efforts that resulted in making the 'hard choices' affecting future Air Force viability and force structure here Feb. 22. Driven by the 2011 Budget Control Act and new defense strategy, the Air Force needed to align the current force

  • Singapore air and trade show wraps up

    Approximately 69 Sailors, Airmen and Department of Defense personnel from across the Pacific represented U.S. military forces at the largest air show in Asia here Feb. 14-19.As one of the top three aerospace and defense exhibitions in the world, the biennial Singapore Airshow 2012 drew thousands of

  • MacDill helps reunite Spanish government, lost gold

    Two Spanish Air Force C-130 Hercules aircraft left here Feb. 24 after being loaded with approximately 17 metric tons, or approximately $500 million, of Spanish gold.The two aircraft were dispatched by the Spanish Government to retrieve Spanish coins that were lost at sea in the 19th century.The gold

  • Airborne Laser Test Bed bids adieu to Edwards AFB

    The aircraft known for turning science fiction into fact, more accurately recognized as the YAL-1A Airborne Laser Test Bed, took to the skies here for the last time during its final ferry flight to Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., Feb. 14.The ALTB, which was a part of the Birk Flight Test

  • CSAF stresses importance of ready future force

    Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz emphasized the service's need for a strong total force ready for the future during remarks to Airmen and defense industry officials here Feb. 23.Schwartz was the first speaker at the Air Force Association's 2012 Air Warfare Symposium and Technology

  • Shared love of aviation unites U.S., Russian airmen

    At most airshows in the U.S., it isn't uncommon for aircrew to get the occasional odd request. However, at the 2012 Singapore Airshow here Feb. 15, the Airmen of an E-3 Sentry crew said they were a bit intimidated when, without warning, the commander-in-chief of the Russian Air Force asked to board

  • Air Force names top fighter squadron

    On Feb. 16, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz announced that Kadena's 67th Fighter Squadron earned the Raytheon Trophy for 2011.The annual award, originally started by the Hughes Aircraft Company in 1953, is now sponsored by Raytheon Systems Corporation and is given to the top air

  • Pentagon: No enemy involvement in U-28 crash in Djibouti

    Four Air Force special operators were killed Feb. 18 when their single-engine U-28 aircraft crashed in Djibouti on the Horn of Africa, Pentagon Press Secretary George Little said Feb. 21."This is obviously a tragic incident," Little said about the accident, which occurred at the Djibouti-Ambouli

  • Laughlin Airman controls Air Force's busiest airfield

    (This feature is part of the "Through Airmen's Eyes" series on AF.mil. These stories and commentaries focus on a single Airman, highlighting their Air Force story.)Like most other young boys, Staff Sgt. John Hammer dreamed of growing up and being a professional football star. Instead, the

  • German defense minister visits Holloman AFB

    Dr. Thomas de Maiziére, Germany's Federal Minister of Defense, visited here Feb. 15 during his trip to the U.S.De Maiziére came to the U.S. to visit the German Air Force Flying Training Center here and tour other German units stationed here in the U.S."It's a pleasure and honor to be here," de

  • Four Hurlburt Field Airmen die in U-28A crash in Djibouti

    Capt Ryan P. Hall from the 319th Special Operations Squadron, Capt Nicholas S. Whitlock and 1st Lt Justin J. Wilkens from the 34th Special Operations Squadron and Senior Airman Julian S. Scholten from the 25th Intelligence Squadron died Feb. 18 when their U-28A was involved in an accident near Camp

  • Daniel James III makes own mark in Air Force history

    The son of the Air Force's first African-American four-star general made a mark in his own right during an Air Force career spanning close to four decades.Lt. Gen. Daniel James III was born in Tuskegee, Alabama, on Sept. 7, 1945. He earned his commission as a distinguished graduate of the University

  • New IAAFA airfield facility consolidates aviation training

    Senior Air Force and Inter-American Air Forces Academy leaders, along with representatives from six Latin America partner nations, opened the new IAAFA Airfield Training Complex here in a ceremony Feb. 9.The new $19-million training complex combines all IAAFA aviation maintenance courses in one

  • AF identifies career fields eligible for crossflow

    Support officers in some overmanned career fields may be eligible to volunteer for retraining into an undermanned career field in support of the Air Force 2012 nonrated line officer crossflow program. Applications for the program will be accepted Feb. 17 through March16.Crossflow is one of various

  • Deployed maintainers keep F-16s flying

    The F-16 Fighting Falcon is a compact, multi-role fighter aircraft. Highly maneuverable, F-16s have proven to be very effective in both air-to-air and air-to-surface combat. To keep these critical air-power assets mission ready, the technicians of the 455th Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance

  • Airlift squadron celebrates 70 years

    "As a modern-day squadron, we stand on the shoulders of giants; of the people who came before us," said 1st Lt. Brett Polage, 37th Airlift Squadron historian. "They have paved the way for us to be successful, so we now show our respect for them."The 37th Airlift Squadron was activated Feb. 14, 1942

  • AFSPC commander addresses maturing cyberspace domain

    The Air Force Space Command commander highlighted space and cyberspace superiority, acquisition strategies and industry partnerships, and the need for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education during a speech Feb. 7 in Colorado Springs, Colo.Gen. William Shelton kicked off the

  • Tuskegee Airman one of first 'top guns'

    When most of us think about "Top Gun," we usually associate it with Tom Cruise's character during the '80s movie showcasing the Navy's F-14 Tomcat exploits and over-the-top maneuvers.But in reality, it was a Tuskegee Airmen who took part and won the military's first "Top Gun" style competition.Born

  • Cope North 2012 combines forces, efforts

    Joint operations kicked off between the U.S. Air Force, the Japan Air Self Defense Force and the Royal Australian Air Force as the first day of exercise Cope North 2012 began here Feb. 13. Whether it was the JASDF's F-2s flying alongside the RAAF's F-18s, or RAAF troops joining 36th Contingency

  • Tuskegee Airman sees success as first AF four-star general

    One of the original Tuskegee Airmen went on to become the first African-American to attain the rank of four-star general in the U.S. Air Force.Born in Pensacola, Fla., in 1920, the youngest of 17 children in a relatively poor family, Gen. Daniel "Chappie" James Jr. had a career that spanned three

  • Cope North kicks off at Andersen AB

    More than 1,000 military members from units spanning the Pacific are ready to kick off exercise Cope North 2012, which runs from Feb. 11 through 24. The trilateral, multinational exercise is designed to enhance air operations between the U.S. Air Force, the Japan Air Self Defense Force and the Royal

  • End of an era for Edwards test flight civilian

    Bearing witness to over a half century of aerospace engineering and innovation is a testament to one's interest in flight test history. However, to actually participate in over 50 years of it is a testament to one's dedication and excellence in the field.After 55 years of work for the Air Force

  • AF announces test pilot school selections

    Sixty-plus Airmen are primary or alternate Air Force and Navy test pilot school selectees, while one has been selected to attend the Epner Test Pilot School in France, and another will attend the Empire Test Pilot School in England, Air Force Personnel Center officials announced.Selectees,

  • Tuskegee Airman gives account of 'lucky' day

    Famed Yankees pitcher "Lefty Gomez" once remarked "I'd rather be lucky than good," but for one Tuskegee Airman, luck and good combined to make him one of the most successful combat pilots of World War II.During the summer of 1944, 2nd Lt. Clarence D. "Lucky" Lester was flying the P-51 Mustang over

  • Airmen ensure interoperability with partner nation

    Two Airmen from the Inter-American Air Forces Academy, out of Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, are currently deployed here in support of a month-long Building Partner Capacity mission.Tech. Sgt. Ruben Sigala and Staff Sgt. Heric Llerena, both instructors at the IAAFA, joined forces with Airmen from

  • OSI investigation leads to conviction in contract fraud case

    A recent investigation by the Air Force Office of Special Investigations resulted in a guilty plea by a man suspected of contract fraud.Charles R. Priestley, 48, was sentenced for making a false, fictitious and fraudulent claim to the United States Air Force. The United States District Court in East

  • Joint partnership brings equipment home

    Twenty-six Airmen from the 435th Contingency Response Group traveled to Romania in partnership with the 21st Theater Sustainment Command to re-deploy the 170 th Brigade Combat team's equipment from Afghanistan to their home unit in Baumholder, Germany.The operation took less than a month with the

  • New fuels course graduates first class

    A new fuels training course developed by 364th Training Squadron members here officially started Jan. 23 and graduated its first students Feb. 3.The Fuels Operational Readiness Capability Equipment Course is designed to teach fuels specialists about new equipment currently being in deployed

  • First Afghan pilot class completes flight screening course

    A group of seven Afghan officers continued their journey to earn pilot wings by passing their first flight screening course Feb. 2 at Shindand Air Base, Afghanistan.The officers are attending the first undergraduate pilot training held exclusively inside Afghanistan in more than 30 years. The flight

  • Tuskegee Airman goes on to become first Air Force African-American general

    A man who was shunned because of his race during his four years at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y., back in the early 1930s would go on to become the first African-American general in the U.S. Air Force.Benjamin O. Davis, Jr. was born in 1912 to Benjamin O. Davis, Sr., an Army officer

  • Guardsmen save man 200 miles off coast of California

    Air National Guardsmen from the 129th Rescue Wing here performed a rescue mission 200 miles off the coast of California on Feb. 4.Responding to a call from the Eleventh District Coast Guard at Alameda, Calif., pararescuemen, two HH-60G Pave Hawk rescue helicopters and one MC-130P Combat Shadow

  • All-AF critical care, air evac team makes historic first flight

    The first all-Air Force Critical Care Air Transport and Aero-medical Evacuation Team to fly with the only fixed wing aircraft dedicated to the medical evacuation mission in Afghanistan completed its first successful mission Jan. 13 and continues saving lives. The CCAT/AE team flies with the 76th

  • Fiscal austerity requires leveraging 'total force'

    In wartime and peacetime, the total force construct is virtually seamless, with Guardsmen and Reserve service members who are indistinguishable from their active-component peers. Our recent air operations in Libya are but the latest example.The ability of our Guardsmen and Reservists to deploy on

  • SecDef visits AF wounded warrior care facility

    The Secretary of Defense visited Ramstein Air Base, Germany, Feb. 3, to show his appreciation for the dedicated and hard-working service members who ensure wounded warriors receive world-class care.Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta started his visit at the Contingency Aeromedical Staging Facility

  • Air Force leaders chart service changes

    Making changes to the Air Force is "hard, but manageable," Air Force Secretary Michael B. Donley said here today.Donley and Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton A. Schwartz detailed force structure changes that will be made in the service over the next year. The men spoke during a Pentagon news

  • Air Force recognizes top EOD flight

    The 2nd Civil Engineer Squadron Explosive Ordnance Disposal Flight here was named as the best in the Air Force recently.For its outstanding 2011 accomplishments, the flight was recognized with the Senior Master Sgt. Gerald J. Stryzak Award as part of the overall 2011 Air Force Civil Engineer and

  • Air Force announces force structure overview for FY 13 and beyond

    Air Force officials announced proposed force structure changes which support the new DoD strategic guidance retiring 286 aircraft over the next five years, including 227 in fiscal year 13.According to Secretary of the Air Force, Michael Donley, the Air Force is shaping itself for future challenges

  • AF officials update enlisted constrained jobs list

    Air Force Specialty Codes on the fiscal 2012 career job reservation constrained list were updated effective Feb. 1, Air Force officials announced. Four AFSCs were added to the constrained list, and three were removed.The career job reservations program enables the Air Force to control the number of

  • Night vision course helps train trainers

    Night-vision goggles are an important tool for pilots and ground forces in low-light environments, so it's vital they learn how to properly use them.A course at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph provides advanced instruction to Airmen already familiar with NVGs so they can go back to their units and

  • Engineer promotes African-Americans in early days of aviation

    An engineering student from Chicago would go on to become an important link in African-American aviation history and do much to take the accomplishments of the early pioneers in aviation and propel them to national acclaim.William J. Powell was born in Kentucky in 1897 and moved with his family to

  • Initiative brings Travis into 2012

    Born out of the Electronic Flight Bag Initiative for aircrew and intended to cut down on inefficiencies, the Digital Air Wing Initiative is now in effect here.Inefficiencies are felt most where the work is taking place, whether it is repeatedly inputting data manually or attempting to find a way

  • Bessie Coleman: Woman who 'dared to dream' made aviation history

    A young woman from rural east Texas, who grew up in a hardscrabble existence as one of 13 children born to poor sharecropper parents, became an unlikely choice to pave the way for future African-American accomplishments in aviation and the U.S. Air Force.Elizabeth "Bessie" Coleman would go on to be

  • U.S., Honduran Air Forces kick-off BPC mission with opening ceremony

    U.S. and Honduran airmen participated in a Jan. 25 ceremony kicking off the start of a mission designed to enhance military-to-military relations between the two nations. The U.S. Airmen, representing 15 Air Force specialties, will work side-by-side with Honduran Air Force members in developing the

  • Medical officer sees other side of care after injury

    (This feature is part of the "Through Airmen's Eyes" series on AF.mil. These stories and commentaries focus on a single Airman, highlighting their Air Force story.)In Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan, where East meets West in a struggle to defeat the Taliban, lies an air base that's home to 30,000

  • AF concludes military transfer case photo investigation

    The investigation of the 345th Training Squadron's Air Transportation Course class graduation photograph concluded recently.Members of the 37th Training Group who were involved in the photo received administrative actions documenting that their conduct brought discredit to both the military and

  • ESC working to upgrade the 'heart' of control, reporting center

    The Electronic Systems Center is working to modernize the U.S. Air Force Control and Reporting Center and has recently put out a request for information to upgrade the CRC Operations Module. The CRC is a mobile command, control and communications radar element which provides a comprehensive air

  • CSAF: AF will be smaller but superb force

    Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz explained the service's contributions to the new Defense Department strategy during a Pentagon press briefing here Jan. 27. Schwartz said that as the Air Force approaches future constrained budgets, service officials will trade size for quality in order

  • Obama praises DOD's energy leadership, stewardship

    President Barack Obama traveled to Buckley Air Force Base, Colo., Jan. 26 to praise the military for "doing its part" -- not just in the nation's defense, but also as leaders in energy conservation.Obama delivered his message at the home of the 460th Space Wing in Aurora, Colo., calling the "green"

  • Airmen assist victims of avalanche, downed aircraft in Afghanistan

    A team of U.S. Air Force and Afghan air force aircrew and support personnel snapped into action Jan. 24 to provide life-saving support to 31 Afghan victims of an avalanche.Additionally, the team supported an Afghan aircrew that had downed their aircraft in an effort to rescue the victims of the

  • National Museum USAF displays formerly classified reconnaissance satellites

    Military, government and industry officials gathered Jan. 26 to officially place three formerly classified reconnaissance satellites on public display in the Cold War Gallery at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force here.The three satellites -- Gambit 1 KH-7, Gambit 3 KH-8 and Hexagon KH-9 --

  • AF officials announce Lance P. Sijan Award winners

    Air Force officials recently announced the winners of the 2011 Lance P. Sijan Air Force Leadership Award.The Lance P. Sijan Air Force Leadership Award recognizes Airmen who have demonstrated outstanding leadership abilities.The senior officer category winner is Maj. Laura Dejong, who is assigned to