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  • The American Chopper of Aircraft Maintenance

    With the eight 13 hour flights the aircraft of the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing have on a daily basis, some parts of the aircraft can wear down, crack or break over periods of time.The 380th Expeditionary Maintenance Squadron fabrication flight, also known as “Fab Flight” or the “American Chopper”

  • A1C with Ph.D. lands job at nuclear treaty monitoring center

    It’s not often you see those three-letter titles A1C and Ph.D. used to refer to the same person. As a matter of fact, only one-hundredth of one percent of the Air Force’s enlisted force from E-1 through E-9 possess a doctor of philosophy degree, one of 33 enlisted Airmen in the Air Force with a

  • How the Air Force got smarter about its aviation fuel use in 2018

    Did you know the Air Force is the largest consumer of fuel in the Department of Defense? This may not surprise you, if say, you’ve ever watched a sortie of F-35 Lighting IIs complete an aerial refueling, or witnessed a C-5 Galaxy lift (seemingly) effortlessly into the sky. In fact, the Air Force

  • AFSPC assumes COMSATCOM procurement responsibility for DoD

    The Air Force Space Command commander assumed responsibility for procurement of commercial satellite communications services for the Department of Defense from the Director of the Defense Information Systems Agency December 12. The move is in accordance with Section 1601(a) of the Fiscal Year 2018

  • Navajo Airman continues family's military legacy at Whiteman

    (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.)Airman 1st Class Phillip Rock is part of his family’s legacy of military service – a legacy that, in fact, would not have continued if it weren’t for

  • B-21 Raider program holds weapons system critical design review

    The Air Force successfully held a critical design review of the B-21 weapon system November 28-30, 2018. The event served as a multi-disciplined technical review that ensured the Air Force’s newest bomber has a stable and mature design as the program moves forward into manufacturing and flight

  • AFCENT band builds relationships with a universal language

    The U.S. Air Forces Central Command band is the only deployed band in the Air Force, covering 17 of the 20 countries in the area of responsibility. Some places are so remote that the locals have never experienced live music. Capt. Dustin Doyle, AFCENT band officer in charge, is the orchestrator for

  • Maker Hub, AFRL “sprint” to innovation

    To build strength and endurance, athletes perform “intervals” or short, intense periods of exertion designed for maximum benefit in the shortest time possible. Thanks to the Air Force Research Laboratory’s Maker Hub at the Wright Brothers Institute, that same kind of benefit is possible for some of

  • TLP brings it all together

    Above the mountainous landscape of Amendola Air Base, Italy, F-15C Eagle pilots assigned to the 493rd Fighter Squadron are training side-by-side with NATO allies from Germany, Spain, Italy, the Netherlands and Belgium in support of Tactical Leadership Programme 18-4.

  • Wing partners with local cement plant, USDA to study black vultures

    The 167th Airlift Wing, Argos Cement Plant and the United States Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service’s Wildlife Services have teamed up to research black vultures in and around Martinsburg, West Virginia, in an effort to mitigate potential aviation hazards.

  • 36th CRG brings relief, inspiration after devastation

    On Oct. 25, Daverrick Camacho, a firefighter from Saipan, woke-up to a nightmare turned reality. Everything he worked toward was wiped off the face of the earth. The place he called home and held family gatherings was nothing more than darkly twisted debris, scattered across the front lawn.

  • Integrating SIGINT for multi-domain total force

    The 16th Intelligence Squadron set on a path to become a reserve component partner with the 70th Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Wing, Oct. 1, 2014, creating a culture of seamless operations integration between active duty and reserve Airmen.

  • Global Hawk testers raise their hand

    At the commander’s call on Edwards Air Force Base, California, Brig. Gen. E. John Teichert stated that “Innovation is an Airmen, at any level, raising their hand to say, ‘I’ve got a better way to do business.’”The 452nd Flight Test Squadron is currently in the process of challenging the way the base

  • Revitalizing squadrons efforts cross borders

    The Air Force’s Revitalizing Squadrons team recently joined together with their Royal Canadian Air Force, or RCAF, counterparts in Ottawa, Canada to collaborate and share best practices in their respective missions to strengthen squadrons across both Air Forces.

  • LCBP provides enterprise opportunities to lead, learn

    The Logistics Career Broadening Program offers company grade logistics officers the opportunity gain leadership skills and experience in depot, supply, sustainment and development missions through a two-year rotation at an air or defense logistics center. Officers are embedded within the

  • 493rd FS trains during Tactical Leadership Programme 18-4

    F-15C Eagles and an F-15D assigned to the 493rd Fighter Squadron and support personnel from the 48th Fighter Wing, RAF Lakenheath, U.K., are participating in the NATO Tactical Leadership Programme 18-4 at Amendola Air Base, Italy.

  • Around the Air Force: ANG wildfire assist/B-21 update/F-35 weapons test

    On this look Around the Air Force, Airmen from 195th Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Group assist in fighting the California wildfires, four bases have been chosen to support the future B-21 Raider and the GBU-49 laser-guided bomb is used by a F-35Lightning II for the first time.

  • Foreign Naval officers dive into Air Mobility

    Approximately 56 foreign and joint military officers from 52 foreign naval services from around the world visited Joint Base Charleston Nov. 13, 2018, to learn about the mission and capabilities of Air Mobility Command as well as JB Charleston’s role as the gateway to the Atlantic.

  • JB Charleston hosts new leadership course

    Company grade officers and senior noncommissioned officers at Joint Base Charleston, S.C., hosted Flight Commander’s edge, a new flight leadership training program, Nov. 6 to 8, 2018.

  • F-35s begin Auto GCAS test flights

    The 461st Flight Test Squadron recently began test flight missions with the F-35 Lightning II and the Auto GCAS at Edwards Air Force Base, California.

  • F-35 maintainers at Hill AFB shaping future with BOLT

    After several months, an innovative program in the 388th Fighter Wing is proving it has the potential to deliver combat power more efficiently and may shape how the Air Force determines future requirements to sustain F-35A Lightning II operations.

  • Gen. Goldfein meets with Ukrainian air force chief

    In the latest example of the strong ties between the U.S. and Ukraine, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David L. Goldfein held high-level discussions with his Ukrainian counterpart, Col-Gen. Sergii Drozdov, at the Pentagon, Nov. 8.

  • AFRL aids NASA in lofty endeavor

    Ingenuity and collaboration were the keys to success as a group of Air Force Research Laboratory engineers took a series of tests to new heights.

  • Base Defense Airmen secure Tyndall AFB

    Airmen from the 822nd Base Defense Squadron, Moody Air Force Base, Georgia, are always primed to deploy at a moment’s notice to secure and defend bases around the world. On Oct. 11, that moment came.

  • AMC’s Phoenix Spark Tank competition recognizes innovation

    Air Mobility Command held its first-ever Phoenix Spark Tank competition at the Airlift/Tanker Association Symposium in Grapevine, Texas, where four finalists proposed their innovation ideas to top Air Force leaders and the president of VOX Space Oct. 26.

  • AFIMSC helps Tyndall get back in the fight

    As Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida, recovers from Hurricane Michael Oct. 10, members and teams from across the Air Force Installation and Mission Support Center are helping the base get back in the fight.

  • Air Force Reserve Command activates first ISR Wing

    Born out of necessity in 2012, the 655th Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Group embraced its destiny to restructure as a wing during a ceremony at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, Oct. 20.

  • Reserve maintainers take part in Air Force light attack experiment

    Senior Master Sgt. Scott Lopez, 476th Maintenance Squadron maintenance superintendent at Moody Air Force Base, Georgia, and Tech. Sgt. Lauren Camarena, an electrical and environmental systems craftsman with the 476th MXS, traveled to Holloman AFB, New Mexico, for two months earlier this year to take

  • JCAT Airman uses combat forensics to evolve the AFCENT mission

    The ideal outcome of any conflict is to achieve victory and come out the other side unscathed. However, an undesired outcome does not mean lessons cannot be learned and applied for future conflicts. The United States military has used this mentality since its inception and applies it today in the

  • 920th RQW Airmen prepare for human spaceflight

    To prepare for the arrival of human space flight tests next year, the 920th Rescue Wing along with the DoD Human Space Flight Support Office, NASA and SpaceX personnel joined forces to plan and execute a realistic medical evacuation exercise at Kennedy Space Center in Florida, Oct. 25.

  • AFPC supporting Tyndall recovery

    The Air Force’s Personnel Center is supporting Headquarters Air Force, Air Combat Command and the 325th Fighter Wing as they continue the recovery efforts at Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida, in the aftermath of Hurricane Michael.

  • Enlisted Heritage and Training Complex uses the past to teach the present

    Located mainly on Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, the Enlisted Heritage and Training Complex uses heritage to train, educate, inspire and recruit Airmen to fly, fight and win the nation’s wars through an extensive array of artifacts and exhibits spanning more than 111 years of aeronautic history.

  • AFIMSC seeks I-WEPTAC topic inputs

    Organizers from the Air Force Installation and Mission Support Center are offering Airmen an opportunity to help shape the future of combat support by submitting topics for the third annual Installation and Mission Support Weapons and Tactics Conference.

  • Pilot instructor training embraces change through virtual reality

    Lt. Gen. Steve Kwast, commander of Air Education and Training Command, has empowered Airmen across the recruiting, training and education enterprise to "be bold, take risks and embrace change" as they make changes to their training curriculum and processes to find the best way to inspire and develop

  • President Trump visits Luke AFB

    President Donald J. Trump visited Luke Air Force Base, Arizona, Oct. 19, to discuss military weapons and technology capabilities and learn about the 56th Fighter Wing’s pilot training mission.

  • The enlisted Airmen perspective: Success in the MDO world

    The mission of the recently-formed Air Force Strategic Integration Group blends senior leader’s perspectives of The Force We Need, the Future of Multi-Domain Operations, and the Airmen We Need to implement lasting change across the service. These changes include direct and indirect improvements for

  • Physiological Episodes – Feedback from the pilot community is critical

    A rise in the number of physiological episodes with primary pilot training aircraft, known as the T-6, is getting a lot of attention from students, instructors and leadership. Air Force Physiological Episodes Action Team leader Brig. Gen. Edward “Hertz” Vaughan recently visited Joint Base San

  • Cyber Airmen fuel innovation

    Cyber Airmen assigned to the 557th Weather Wing recently teamed with the Defense Innovation Unit program to improve how airborne tankers’ scheduling.

  • 563rd RQG realigns to the 355th FW

    The 563rd Rescue Group, a geographically-separated unit out of Moody Air Force Base, Georgia, was realigned from the 23rd Wing to Davis-Monthan AFB’s 355th Fighter Wing Oct. 1, 2018.

  • Air Force awards three Launch Service Agreements

    The U.S. Air Force announced today the award of three Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV) Launch Service Agreements to (in alphabetical order) Blue Origin, Northrop Grumman Innovation Systems, and United Launch Alliance.

  • 418th FLTS completes 10-year support of NASA Orion parachute tests

    For a decade the 418th Flight Test Squadron has supported NASA by supplying C-17 Globemaster IIIs and personnel to assist with the testing and qualifying of the Orion spacecraft’s parachute system. That support ended Sept. 12 with the success of the final parachute system test over the Army’s Yuma

  • AFIMSC observes two years of innovation, support to AF

    AFIMSC celebrated its second year of full operational capability Oct. 1. The standup represented the Air Force’s largest change in more than 20 years as the service centralized 155 installation and mission support functions previously executed by the major commands and Headquarters Air Force into a

  • Brothers carry on family legacy in aviation

    Decades ago, a father took his two young sons to the aviation museum at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. Although the father might have known it would be a great vacation for his family, he had no way of knowing the impact the trip would have on his sons’ future decision to join the Air Force.

  • Air Force designates GO1 hypersonic flight research vehicle as X-60A

    The Air Force has designated the GOLauncher1 hypersonic flight research vehicle as X-60A. The vehicle is being developed by Generation Orbit Launch Services, Inc. under contract to the Air Force Research Laboratory, Aerospace Systems Directorate, High Speed Systems Division.

  • Air advisors partner with Colombian air force during BPC mission

    The 571st Mobility Support Advisory Squadron recently conducted a Building Partnerships Capacity mission in Bogota, Colombia. The 17-member mobile training team, including members of the Wyoming Air National Guard and the Colorado Air Force Reserves, executed a four-week joint training mission with

  • Indo-Pacom Wraps Up Valiant Shield 2018

    U.S. military forces from the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command wrapped up exercise Valiant Shield 2018, Sept. 23rd, around the Marianas Island Range Complex and on Guam.

  • PEO Digital will change global AF software acquisition

    Dr. Will Roper, the Air Force's senior civilian acquisition leader, redesignated Program Executive Office Battle Management as PEO Digital, to be headquartered at Hanscom Air Force Base, Massachusetts, Sept. 17.

  • The Flying First

    That young pilot, Capt. Benjamin Foulois, was in one of eight Curtis JN-3 “Jenny” biplanes participating in the search. The planes were powered with 90-horsepower engines that had a rough time just staying airborne, but they led a reconnaissance mission to kick off Gen. John J. Pershing’s punitive

  • AFCENT command and control operations weather the storm

    The force smashed into their northern and western flank, but still, the Airmen stayed focused on the U.S. Central Command mission, a fight thousands of miles away. The opposing force was no enemy, however. These Airmen of the 609th Air Operations Center, Detachment 1, Shaw Air Force Base, South

  • Goldfein delivers 2018 AF update during AFA

    Chief of Staff of the Air Force Gen. David L. Goldfein delivered his speech at the Air Force Association’s Air, Space and Cyber Conference, Sept. 18, 2018, emphasizing how the service must prepare the Air Force We Need and present it to combatant commanders to compete, deter and win.

  • The Force We Present: Future of AF operations

    As the Air Force highlights revitalizing squadrons and the need to improve readiness to contend with near peer adversaries, the Air Force deputy chief of staff of operations spoke to an audience about “The Force We Present” and the necessity for coming changes in military operations during the Air

  • The ‘Airmen We Need’: Air Force personnel update

    Lt. Gen. Brian T. Kelly, Deputy Chief of Staff for Manpower, Personnel and Services, outlined the Air Force’s strategy for the “Airmen We Need” campaign at the Air, Space, Cyber Conference, Sept. 17, 2018, in National Harbor.

  • SecAF Wilson provides Air Force update

    Secretary of the Air Force Heather Wilson presented an update of the state of the Air Force Sept. 17, during the 2018 Air Force Association Air, Space and Cyber Conference in National Harbor.Wilson discussed restoring force readiness, space operations and the future of the Air Force during her

  • Air Force Senior Leaders announce 2019 Spark Tank Competition

    Enlisted, officer and government employees may now submit their innovative ideas for the 2019 Air Force Spark Tank Competition.The competition calls for Airmen to pitch their innovative ideas to the Air Force’s senior leaders through the the IdeaScale Ideation platform at usaf.ideascalegov.com, and

  • The Air Force We Need: 386 operational squadrons

     Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson announced the results of an in-depth analysis aimed at outlining what the Air Force needs to implement the National Defense Strategy while speaking at the Air Force Association's annual Air, Space and Cyber conference Sept. 17.“The analysis says what every Airmen

  • US Naval Academy tests waters with Hurricane Hunters

    When the subject of summer internships comes up, thoughts of fetching coffee and doing paperwork or answering phone calls come to mind.What does not come to mind is working 10,000 feet in the air in an Air Force Reserve WC-130J Hercules flying through a hurricane for the sake of research.

  • A Day That Resonates

    JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, Texas -- By looking at him you wouldn’t know it, but Tech Sgt. Trevor Brewer, 72nd Security Forces Squadron flight chief at Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma, has deep scars from a day that took the lives of two fellow Airmen and severely wounded two others. His wounds

  • “Memphis Belle” exhibit opens at National Museum of the USAF

    Through the cockpit windscreen, Capt. Robert Morgan saw flashes of light from the wings and engine cowling of a German Focke-Wulf Fw 190 at his 12 o’clock and closing at an incredible rate. Each wink of light from the fighter’s wing root meant another 20mm cannon shell was heading directly at his