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U.S. Air Force News

  • Senior Pentagon leaders visit AFTAC’s community school

    Senior officials from the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force Manpower and Reserve Affairs toured Endeavour Elementary School in Cocoa, Florida, during their visit to the Air Force Technical Applications Center Sept. 7 for the center’s annual Women in Science and Engineering

  • Standing vigilant from the top of the world

    Stretching from the confines of Thule Air Base, Greenland, the northernmost U.S. military installation hundreds of miles above the Arctic Circle, a dirt road trails steadily upward and to the northwest. Following the road for about a dozen miles across sparse, barren tundra resembling a moonscape

  • A 10-minute test: Airman delivers daughter

    When Master Sgt. Travis Shaw left for work the morning of Aug. 9, he probably couldn’t have imagined that just hours later his combat lifesaving skills would be tested in an emergency situation most pararescue specialists don’t traditionally encounter. But rather than treating a service member on

  • Around the Air Force: Sept. 13

    On this look around the Air Force combined U.S. and South Korean forces conducted a display of airpower and Airmen in Bulgaria participated in a new joint NATO air policing operation.

  • Chief exercises resilience through mountain climbing

    The four pillars of comprehensive airmen fitness are mental, physical, social and spiritual. How Airmen choose to strengthen them is of their own desire, but one sergeant thinks a way to reinforce all of these concepts is found at the top of each American states’ highest point.

  • Program adds multiple career fields, vacancies

    The Air Force’s Voluntary Limited Period of Active Duty (VLPAD) program has added a number of career fields for selected air reserve component line of the Air Force officers.

  • Airman follows dad’s lead, applies lesson to life, career

    Not every son gets a chance to live out his father’s legacy. For Senior Airman Christopher Martinez, an 8th Expeditionary Air Mobility Squadron crew chief, each day served in the Air Force is an opportunity to honor his father’s, Tech. Sgt. Gilbert Martinez, memory.

  • Bulgaria, US commence joint air policing

    The U.S. and Bulgarian air forces are conducting a joint NATO air policing mission in Bulgaria Sept. 9-16, which enables on-demand response capabilities that serve to mitigate and deter violations and infringements on Bulgarian sovereign airspace. Working alongside the Bulgarian Air Force are four

  • New course allows pararescuemen to develop as leaders, obtain certification

    It takes countless years of education, multiple deployments and temporary duty assignments to become a pararescue team leader. The 68th Rescue Flight recently implemented the Combat Leaders Course, a 65-day course for 10 pararescuemen in which they develop their leadership abilities while obtaining

  • Airmen, Marines seize airfield during training

    Standing at the edge of the open ramp on an MC-130J Commando II, 13,000 feet above their target with the cold wind whipping through the aircraft, they wait for the green light and the go sign from the aircraft’s loadmaster allowing them to jump and parachute in to take their target. The 353rd

  • AF Week in Photos

    This week's photos feature Airmen from around the globe involved in activities supporting expeditionary operations and defending America. This weekly feature showcases the men and women of the Air Force.

  • Career Intermission Program provides hiatus from active-duty AF

    A year ago, Capt. Katie Evans, a personnel officer, had two choices: leave active duty to pursue full-time parenthood and hope to return some day, or apply for the new Career Intermission Program which would allow her to leave the service for a few years with a guaranteed return to active duty. CIP

  • Lost, found, repatriated

    In early May 2016, Andy Fuller, a groundsman from Royal Air Force Honington, England, swept his metal detector over the soil of what used to be known as RAF Knettishall. Once designated as U.S. Army Air Force Station 136, the base was home to the B-17 Flying Fortress, an aircraft utilized for

  • Around the Air Force: Sept. 6

    On this look around the Air Force, the flu mist is not a viable vaccination for Airmen this year, and aeromedical Airmen rely on the Transport Isolation System to prevent the spread of illnesses.

  • EMTs compete in annual AF wide rodeo

    Air Force emergency medical technicians gathered to compete in the 9th annual Air Force Medical Service EMT Rodeo at Cannon Air Force Base Aug. 24-27.The competition involved 24 EMT teams from across the Air Force, at both stateside and overseas installations, challenging one another for the title

  • Malmstrom tests Minuteman III with launch from Vandenberg

    A team of Air Force Global Strike Command Airmen from the 341st Missile Wing at Malmstrom Air Force Base, Montana, launched an unarmed Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile equipped with a test re-entry vehicle Sept. 5 from Vandenberg AFB, California.

  • Around the Air Force: Sept. 2

    On this look around the Air Force, the KC-135 Stratotanker celebrates 60 years of service, a new KC-46A Pegasus training center opens its doors, and a preview of this month's Airman magazine is available.

  • US, Philippine airmen talks aim to enhance interoperability

    The ability of multinational militaries to work, train and fight alongside each other is vital within the dynamic security environment of the Indo-Asia-Pacific region, the Philippine Air Force vice commander told U.S. military members during a recent conference at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam,

  • Spanish aircrews train with US at Red Flag 16-4

    Since its inception in 1975, Red Flag has served as the pinnacle of air-to-air combat training for the Air Force and its allies. For the Spanish Air Force, Red Flag 16-4 has been the perfect avenue to receive the best training for their aircrews and support personnel, as well as an avenue for

  • Misawa Airmen medically assist Sri Lankans during Pacific Angel

    Patient care is crucial in a country with minimal accessibility to hospitals due to lengthy commutes and no means to travel to these locations. Operation Pacific Angel 16-3 had two health services operation sites in Sri Lanka to better enable local nationals in remote areas the opportunity to

  • AF Week in Photos

    This week's photos feature Airmen from around the globe involved in activities supporting expeditionary operations and defending America. This weekly feature showcases the men and women of the Air Force.

  • Every Airman plays a role in suicide prevention

    The Air Force is determined to prevent suicide, but an Airman doesn’t need to be a specialist or doctor to do that. Sometimes all it takes is starting a conversation. Everyone has a role to play. That’s a key part of the Defense Department’s #BeThere campaign, which encourages making a difference

  • Air Force celebrates 60 years of the KC-135

    The Air Force celebrated the 60th birthday of the KC-135 Stratotanker Aug. 31. The first Stratotanker flew in August of 1956 and was later delivered to the Air Force in June 1957.

  • Don’t mess with mama bear

    Leadership is not an innate quality and there is no true recipe for success in regards to it. Leadership takes on many forms. Leadership has no preferred race, religion, ethnicity nor gender. Blind to any categorization, Lt. Col. Nicole Roberts, the 21st Security Forces Squadron commander,

  • Worth the weight: Airman finds solace in gym sessions

    (This feature is part of the "Through Airmen's Eyes" series. These stories focus on individual Airmen, highlighting their Air Force story.) With her brow furrowed and teeth clenched as muscles in her body tense up, the dissonant sounds of metallic ringing, determined grunting and echoed overhead

  • Influenza vaccine update for Airmen, families

    This year's influenza vaccine will be different for service members due to a recommendation from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to not use the live attenuated influenza vaccine, commonly known as FluMist.

  • First AF reservist assumes role as AF assistant vice chief

    Lt. Gen. Stayce D. Harris received her new rank during a promotion ceremony Aug. 26 at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland. Former Women Airforce Service Pilot Pauline Cutler-White and retired Col. Charles McGee, one of the original Tuskegee Airmen, helped pin on the new rank. Harris is the Air Force's

  • Joint exercise prepares Airmen, Soldiers for contingency ops

    Green Flag Little Rock 16-09 kicked off Aug. 18 with about 750 Army paratroopers jumping from several C-130J Super Hercules and C-17 Globemaster III aircraft in the dead of night to seize and secure an assault zone. Among the largest rotational air mobility training events in the world, the exercise

  • Yesterday’s Air Force: Archie Williams

    As an Olympic gold medalist and command pilot, Lt. Col. Archie Williams proved time and again his skill, discipline and determination were among the best.

  • J-model shows why it’s king in recent rescue

    When the phone rings and lives are on the line, rescue Airmen understand that at a moment’s notice they need to be in the air and prepared to do the mission. On Aug. 19 that call came.

  • AF opens enlisted RPA pilot program to all AFSCs

    Using a phased-application approach, Air Force senior leaders are casting a wider net to ensure more active-duty enlisted Airmen are eligible to apply for the service’s RQ-4 Global Hawk remotely piloted aircraft program, a Pentagon official said Aug. 29.

  • WWII aviator returns to Guam after 71 years, gets unexpected surprise

    The year was 1945 during the tail end of World War II. The sound of roaring aircraft engines and boots on the ground filled the air, raising decibel levels to resounding heights. For Rowland Ball, now 91, the sounds became familiar and today serve as a nostalgic reminder of his time as a B-29

  • AF readiness for global combat power

    The 355th Logistics Readiness Squadron logistics planners, a shop of 14 Airmen, coordinate and direct personnel and cargo from Davis-Monthan Air Force Base. They control and direct everything having to do with the process of deployments and exercises in order to support operations around the globe.

  • AF Week in Photos

    This week's photos feature Airmen from around the globe involved in activities supporting expeditionary operations and defending America. This weekly feature showcases the men and women of the Air Force.

  • Open architecture bringing benefits to Air Force DCGS

    A battle management team is working to improve capabilities for warfighters who process and disseminate intelligence information. The Air Force Distributed Common Ground System is the Air Force’s key system for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance information. There are dozens of DCGS sites

  • AF selects 16,506 for promotion to staff sergeant

    Out of the 39,064 eligible senior airmen, 16,506 were selected for promotion to staff sergeant, Air Force officials announced Aug. 25. The overall selection rate was 42.25 percent, with an average selectee overall score of 360.88. Officials selected 2,318 Airmen with a promote now recommendation for

  • Goldfein honors Airmen, discusses priorities in Afghanistan visit

    Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Dave Goldfein visited Airmen deployed to Afghanistan on Aug. 12. During his visit, Goldfein recognized several Airmen for outstanding performance and held an all call discussing his top priorities and the future of the Air Force.

  • Air Force, Army planners find ways to see greater jump in airdrops

    An arriving C-130 Hercules taxies to a large hangar where about 60 Army paratroopers wait to board. Lugging about 100 pounds of gear, the Soldiers quickly line up and load into the aircraft as its four idling engines blow hot gusts over the tarmac. Minutes later, the plane is flying at 150 mph and

  • Newly activated unit guides transient aircraft on joint missions

    Any aircraft that flies into Pope Army Airfield, Col. Kelly Holbert will know about it. But Holbert’s unit, the 43rd Air Mobility Operations Group, has no aircraft of its own. As the only en route operations group in the continental U.S., the unit manages transient aircraft and the joint missions

  • Singaporean leaders visit, recognize first weapons instructors

    The 366th Fighter Wing welcomed Singaporean Maj. Gen. Mervyn Tan, chief of Republic of Singapore Air Force, and Brig. Gen. Tommy Tan Ah Han, Republic of Singapore Air Force Air Combat Command commander, Aug. 17-20, to recognize the first graduates of the Singaporean Fighter Weapons Instructor Course

  • Around the Air Force: Aug. 23

    On this look around the Air Force big changes are coming for additional duties, Airmen participate in exercise Northern Strike, and B-52 Stratofortresses conduct a ceremonial flyover in Australia

  • Enhancing partnerships through joint education

    About 20 U.S. and international junior enlisted members participated in the first U.S.-led Pacific Rim Junior Enlisted Leadership Forum at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, Aug. 8-12.

  • Airman teaches Marines combat survival skills

    It’s not every day that an Airman gets to experience firsthand what it means to “train like a Marine,” let alone teach them a few skills of his own. Senior Airman Ronnie Perez, a 460th Medical Operations Squadron medical technician, recently joined 35 Marines from Company A, Marine Cryptologic

  • Airmen assist in Arizona highway rescue

    High winds and dust whipped the uniforms of two Airmen as they attempted to rescue a woman trapped in the cab of her semitractor-trailer. One of them applied his might to the piece of metal that kept the woman confined to her vehicle while the other held the door while trying to guide her down the

  • BLUE: World class

    Air Force TV has released the latest episode of the Air Force's flagship television program, BLUE. This episode features Airmen with multiple goals – to serve their country and to compete in the Olympic Games. Thanks to the Air Force World Class Athlete Program, elite athletes can do both – they can

  • AF to reduce additional duties

    In a memorandum to Airmen released Aug. 19, Secretary of the Air Force Deborah Lee James and Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Dave Goldfein announced the service has established a task force titled “Airmen’s Time,” charged with streamlining, and in some cases eliminating, additional duties.

  • AF Week in Photos

    This week's photos feature Airmen from around the globe involved in activities supporting expeditionary operations and defending America. This weekly feature showcases the men and women of the Air Force.

  • Contingency response Airmen support exercise Northern Strike

    Airmen from the 821st Contingency Response Group here recently participated in exercise Northern Strike at Grayling Army Airfield and Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center in Michigan. Northern Strike is a large-scale exercise coordinated by the Michigan Army National Guard and features Army,

  • Air Force aims to hasten foreign military sales process

    In remarks at the State Department’s Foreign Press Center in New York Aug. 17, Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James outlined the Air Force’s multifaceted approach to expedite the service’s portion of the foreign military sales process.

  • Moody Airman's innovation 'triggers' AF-level change

    One innovative Airman at Moody Air Force Base, Georgia, used attention to detail paired with problem solving skills to remove unnecessary and costly stages of maintenance that will save the Air Force money, resources and manpower.

  • US, South Korean forces integrate at Daegu for Buddy Wing training

    Fighter squadrons across the Korean Peninsula routinely participate in Buddy Wings to enhance the interoperability of U.S. and South Korean air forces. For Buddy Wing 16-7, F-16 Fighting Falcon pilots from the 36th Fighter Squadron traveled to Daegu Air Base, South Korea, to train with F-15K Slam

  • Around the Air Force: Aug. 16

    In this look around the Air Force, the KC-46A Pegasus has been approved for production, the Air Force is looking to create new F-16 Fighting Falcon training squadrons, and enlisted Airmen pursue medical degrees through the Enlisted to Medical Degree Preparatory Program.

  • Goldfein talks air coalition ops during CENTCOM region visit

    Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David L. Goldfein recently visited the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility to get a sense of not only how the campaign is going as a member of the joint chiefs but also to get an understanding of how he can better support Airmen, Soldiers, Sailors, Marines and

  • AF, Navy medical teams integrate at sea

    Airmen from the 379th Expeditionary Medical Group’s Mobile Field Surgical Team and Expeditionary Critical Care Team embarked aboard amphibious transport dock USS San Antonio (LPD 17). The group will augment and train with the ship's existing medical personnel to provide additional surgical

  • AF Week in Photos

    This week's photos feature Airmen from around the globe involved in activities supporting expeditionary operations and defending America. This weekly feature showcases the men and women of the Air Force.

  • RPA pilots set to receive $35,000 annual bonus

    Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James announced an increase to the service’s remotely piloted aircraft pilot bonus Aug. 10 in a multi-pronged approach to increase RPA manning and incentivize RPA pilots within a community that has operated at surge capacity for more than 10 years.

  • CSAF letter to Airmen

    Attached is the first in a series of short papers I will share that outlines my thinking in key focus areas. You will find each in our Strategic Master Plan (SMP) and Air Force Future Operating Construct (AFFOC); and each nests nicely under SecAF’s priorities of: Taking Care of Airmen; Balancing

  • MacDill Airman competes in ultramarathons

    Inspiration for the modern marathon, a 26.2-mile race, stems from military origins. Legend tells of a Greek soldier who ran from Marathon to Athens to deliver news of the defeated Persian army. More than two millennia later, one Airman at MacDill Air Force Base is writing his own story.

  • New AF violence prevention specialists training begins

    Representatives from the major commands and more than 30 Air Force installations attended training at Dobbins Air Reserve Base July 18-29 to become violence prevention specialists. The Specialists for the Primary Prevention of Violence is being set up as a new helping agency for Airmen and their

  • Tankers enable long-range bomber capability during Polar Roar

    Mobility Airmen play a vital role in deterrence and stand ready to operate in support of global operations at a moment’s notice. Air Mobility Command Airmen, 15 KC-135 Stratotankers and 10 KC-10 Extenders enabled Air Force Global Strike Command B-52 Stratofortresses and B-2 Spirits to sustain air

  • Around the Air Force: Aug. 5

    On this look around the Air Force, B-1B Lancers deploy to Guam; a new issue of Airman magazine is out and features U-2 pilots; and in Germany, seven nations participated in International Jump Week.

  • Leader training on Blended Retirement System available via mobile app

    The online Blended Retirement System leader course, released in June, is designed to educate leaders on the new retirement system. The training provides both military and civilian leaders of Airmen with a working knowledge of the BRS and the Defense Department plan to educate the force prior to