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U.S. Air Force News

  • New OTS selection board results announced

    A total of 211 men and women from across America have earned an opportunity to become Air Force leaders following their selection for an officer's commission, officials here announced today.

  • Generals stress collaboration, innovation during forum

    General officers candidly discussed innovation, concerns and the service's future during the professional development portion of the Air Force Association's Air & Space Conference and Technology Exposition 2013 here Sept. 18.

  • Service chiefs detail 2014 sequestration effects

    The House Armed Services Committee heard testimony on planning for sequestration in fiscal 2014 from Army Chief of Staff Gen. Ray Odierno, Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Jonathan W. Greenert, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark A. Welsh III and Marine Corps Commandant Gen. James F. Amos.

  • Roll Call returns, encourages face-to-face communication

    Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James A. Cody is bringing Roll Call back to the Air Force. Roll Call is designed to deliver messages to the field from senior Air Force leadership for Airmen to use as a topic of discussion when they gather for daily or weekly meetings.

  • ISR official urges looking to history to face future challenges

    At the Air Force Association Air & Space Conference and Technology Exposition here Sept. 17, Lt. Gen. Robert P. Otto discussed the current state and way ahead for Air Force intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, or ISR, and the role Airmen play in its planning and impact.

  • Deployed Airmen trailblazers of Reaper world

    At Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan, the men and women of the 451st Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron are building the heritage of Reaper Airmen as they develop the institutional knowledge for one of the nation's newer air warfare assets.

  • Journey home: Final C-17 leaves Boeing for Charleston

    As the sun rose above Long Beach, Calif., the last U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster III, P-223, rolled off the Boeing assembly onto the flight line where it was prepared for its inaugural flight to Joint Base Charleston, S.C.

  • AFA Air & Space Conference comes to AF.mil

    The AFA’s Air & Space Conference and Technology Exposition brings Air Force and industry leaders. The Defense Media Activity and www.af.mil will be bringing coverage conference’s most important events right to your screen.

  • Academy again ranks among best U.S. colleges

    The U.S. Air Force Academy is one of the best educational institutions in the nation in several undergraduate academic categories, said the U.S. News & World Report 2014 Best Colleges report released Sept. 10.

  • Acting SecAF talks future of special ops

    Acting Secretary of the Air Force Eric Fanning spoke with more than 500 Air Commandos about the future of special operations at an all-call during his two-day visit here, Sept. 9-10.

  • DOD officials announce missile defense siting study

    Pursuant to the fiscal 2013 National Defense Authorization Act, the Defense Department has initiated a study to evaluate five candidate sites in the continental United States for the potential future deployment of additional ground-based interceptors, Pentagon officials announced Sept. 12

  • Colonel promotion rate to drop

    Air Force officials decreased the promotion opportunity to the rank of colonel to 48 percent for November’s Colonel Line of the Air Force, or LAF, Central Selection Board.

  • $20 solution solves 14K problem

    12th Flying Training Wing T-38C pilots and maintainers will begin using multi-function display, or MFD, covers this month, saving the wing $182,000 a year in broken MFDs all for only $3,600 - just a little more than a quarter of the price for a repaired MFD.

  • Deployed Airmen remember Dominguez, serve on 9/11 anniversary

    Sept. 11 is never too far from the hearts and minds of the 105th Security Forces Squadron deployed here from Stewart Air National Guard Base in Newburgh, New York. Through mementos and each other, they remember one unit member who was killed during the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.Nearly 3,000 people

  • Memory’s requiem: 12 years after 9/11

    She held the Airfone receiver close to her mouth and spoke in a clear, concise manner.“The cockpit’s not answering,” the flight attendant said as her voice wavered slightly. “Somebody’s stabbed in business class, and um, I think there is mace that we can’t breathe. I don’t know, I think we’re

  • Near death spurs trainer to change people's lives

    Looking at Paul Johnson, 56th Force Support Squadron fitness specialist supervisor, one sees a strong, muscular, fit man. But, he says he wasn't always that way. It was a near-death experience that spurred a decision in him to not only continue strength training but also change other people's lives

  • Program gives Airman opportunity to attend Academy

    For most cadets, this represents their initial basic training experience and the beginning of their path to becoming an Air Force officer, but a few cadets in each class have taken the long road to Jacks Valley.

  • AFSA conference encourages, informs Airmen

    The strength and impact of the NCO corps was the theme of the night as Acting Secretary of the Air Force Eric Fanning was keynote speaker during the Air Force Sergeants Association Convention and Professional Airmen's Conference banquet Aug. 28 in San Antonio, Texas.

  • Past, present AF leaders gather at AFSA conference

    United States Air Force senior leaders, past and present, gathered here Aug. 24-29 to speak at the 2013 Air Force Sergeants Association Professional Airman’s Conference and International Convention.

  • Same-sex spouses eligible for join spouse, accompanied assignments

    Air Force military members with same-sex active duty spouses are now eligible for join spouse assignment consideration and those with a civilian same-sex spouse are now eligible for command sponsorship consideration, Air Force Personnel Center officials said.

  • CSAF meets with Airmen at JB Elmendorf-Richardson

    For the first time since assuming his current post, the Air Force's top general officer visited Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson Aug. 28 and 29 to address some of the pressing issues facing the Air Force, meet Airmen stationed here and get a first-hand look at the base's mission.

  • National commission reviews AF ‘life-cycle’ manpower costs

    The "National Commission on the Structure of the Air Force" interviewed senior defense leaders past and present on Aug. 27, to review the "fully-burdened life-cycle manpower costs" of active duty, Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve Airmen.

  • Acting SecAF answers Airmen's concerns

    Acting Secretary of the Air Force Eric Fanning came here Aug. 22 as part of his recent tour of bases to speak with Airmen about their concerns and to answer questions about the future of the Air Force.

  • CSAF visits, thanks Yokota AB Airmen

    Chief of Staff of the Air Force Gen. Mark A. Welsh III and Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force James A. Cody visited Airmen here Aug. 27, 2013, as part of a two-week tour of the Pacific region.

  • Curriculum policy changes mark start of new DODEA school year

    Department of Defense Education Activity students, parents and employees should expect quite a few changes in the upcoming school year, the DODEA director said in an Aug. 23 interview. Those changes will be both visible and behind the scenes, but they all are geared toward improving the quality of

  • Vigilant Eagle continues closer U.S.-Russian cooperation

    Vigilant Eagle 13 kicked off today, with scenarios that present the United States, Canada and Russia with a common enemy: terrorist hijackers, Joseph Bonnet, director of joint training and exercises for NORAD and U.S. Northern Command, said during a telephone interview with American Forces Press

  • Through Airmen's Eyes: Airman strengthens Russian ties at Manas

    Not many Americans can say they are originally from Russia. Even fewer can say their military deployment has strengthened their family. For 2nd Lt. Liya Smolina, 376th Air Expeditionary Wing Theater Security Cooperation chief host nation liaison, that's exactly the case.

  • What do you mean, 'Back to basics'?

    Last September, in his first speech as the Air Force Chief of Staff, Gen. Mark A. Welsh III advocated a back-to-basics approach for the Air Force. He noted that the missions of the Air Force have not changed over time, but rather, the terms by which we identify the missions have changed.

  • AF releases nuclear enterprise’s future plan

    The Air Force recently announced a long-term vision for the service’s nuclear enterprise.The plan, signed by the chief of staff and secretary of the Air Force and approved by the 4-star-level Nuclear Oversight Board, provides a framework for advancing and monitoring the overall health of the Air

  • Training system brings fight to F-16 pilots

    Groundbreaking advancements to F-16 Fighting Falcon warfare training here arrived during the week of Aug. 12 through 16 in the form of a Joint Deployable Electronic Warfare Range, or JDEWR.

  • Air Force offers potential model for future MWR programs

    For a glimpse into how the military services might provide quality morale, welfare and recreation services and programs despite continuing budget pressures, the transformation program the Air Force Services directorate has been rolling out for the past two and a half years is worth a look.

  • Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance

    Since the beginnings of armed conflict, superior knowledge has been one of the keys to effective combat power. For over 100 years, Airmen have exploited the vertical dimension to gain a decisive information advantage over our foes. The evolution of globally integrated ISR has fundamentally changed

  • Air and Space Superiority

    America’s freedom to operate effectively across the spectrum of conflict rests not only on the Air Force’s ability to dominate in the air, but also on its ability to exploit space. Every day, over 15,000 Airmen play a role in ensuring space superiority. As the Nation’s space force, the Air Force

  • Rapid Global Mobility ... Delivery on demand

    American power can be projected quickly to anywhere on the face of the earth as a result of the Air Force’s capability for rapid mobility. The Air Force’s 122,000 air mobility Airmen provide swift deployment and the ability to sustain operations by delivering essential equipment and personnel for

  • Global Strike ... Any target, any time

    Global strike, a significant portion of America’s deterrence capability, means that the Nation can project military power more rapidly, more flexibly, and with a lighter footprint than other military options. With the expertise of over 26,000 Airmen, the Air Force’s nuclear and conventional

  • AF announces PT test enhancements to start Oct. 1

    Air Force senior leadership announced enhancements to the Air Force’s Physical Fitness Assessment program, to be implemented Oct. 1. In a letter to Airmen Aug. 20, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark A. Welsh III explained the results of the comprehensive review, highlighting the strength of the

  • Love for Lamia: Retired general devotes life to help Afghans

    It was part of the international relationship building he spoke about to the graduating pilots from Euro NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training Program, Aug. 9., here that has propelled Lt. Gen. (Ret.) John Bradley into a post-military career passion.

  • Air guard director hosts first all-call

    Remaining operationally engaged, the fiscal climate, furloughs and serving with distinction were topics frankly discussed by the director of the Air National Guard, Lt. Gen. Stanley E. Clarke III, at his first All-Call Aug 14 here.

  • The Power of Airmen

    The effectiveness of Air Force airpower comes directly from thepower of Airmen. While it is natural to define the Air Force interms of its aircraft, missiles, or satellites, in reality, the Service’sunmatched capabilities exist only and precisely because of theimagination, innovation, and dedication

  • America's Asymmetric Advantage

    From airpower’s earliest days, Airmen working together have exploitedtechnology to provide essential knowledge and information on whenand where to act, to move people and materials when and whereneeded, to control the ultimate high ground, and to strike where andwhen desired. In building the Air

  • Airmen + Core Missions = Global Vigilance, Global Reach, Global Power

    No single core mission offers only one of the three effects of airpower—Global Vigilance, Global Reach, or Global Power—because all five core missions are necessary to provide the integrated global airpower effects that only the Air Force cansupply. And each Airman, regardless of their

  • Air Force Vision

    America is—and always will be—an aerospace nation. To fully realize the Nation’s aerospace potential, President Truman established an independent Air Force in 1947 to better protect America, its citizens, and its allies. From this beginning, we have grown airpower into the ability to project global

  • Eglin AFB F-35 fleet exceeds 2K sorties, training presses on

    Airmen and Marines assigned to the F-35 Integrated Training Center at the 33rd Fighter Wing here have consistently flown successful training sorties and generated their 2,000th sortie Aug. 13 with an instructor pilot of the Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron-501 (VMFAT-501), at the

  • Unique testing helps warfighter, saves lives

    When large transport or rotary-wing aircraft support a mission in a deployed location, there's always the threat of those wanting to harm to the lives and assets onboard. That includes risks from a range of shoulder-fired, vehicle-mounted and other infrared-guided missiles capable of following the

  • Academy welcomes new superintendent

    The U.S. Air Force Academy logged a new milestone here Aug. 12 when the first woman to hold the position of Academy superintendent assumed command in a ceremony before hundreds of guests, Academy staff and cadets.

  • Leaders discuss roles of reserve components

    Continuing to perform an operational role, while solving manpower costs and dealing with shrinking defense budgets, was one of the challenges discussed by military and civilian leaders at the Reserve Officers Association 2013 National Security Symposium here Aug. 7-10.

  • Historic airpower database now online

    More than eight years in the making, a new database containing information from U.S. military and coalition aerial bombing campaigns over the last century is now publicly available online.

  • Military Spouse of the Year, committed to National Guard families

    The schedule of a military spouse is an arduous one. Appointments, dinners, and family time are vital to maintaining normalcy despite the strain of military life.Alicia Hinds Ward, the 2013 Armed Forces Insurance Military Spouse of the Year, is another in the long line of military mothers and

  • TRICARE moves forward with prime service area reductions

    Defense Department officials will reduce the number of TRICARE Prime service areas in the United States beginning Oct. 1, affecting about 171,000 retirees and their family members. Those beneficiaries, who mostly reside more than 40 miles from a military clinic or hospital, received a letter earlier

  • Acting SECAF impressed by 45th SW mission, Airmen

    Acting Secretary of the Air Force Eric Fanning made his first-ever stop to the 45th Space Wing and got an up-close-and-personal look at the mission and Airmen who work on Cape Canaveral Air Force Station and Patrick Air Force Base.

  • Airmen prepare Afghan security for future

    During the past four months, 755th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron Airmen have been focusing on transitioning the security of the Parwan province to the Afghan National Security Forces, while ensuring the security of Bagram Airfield here.A key to the success of the transition is that ANSF are

  • A tribute to a warrior, patriot and hero to all Airmen

    I am the very proud son of an American fighter pilot, one of that treasured group who served in three wars, built an Air Force, and gave it an enduring example of courage and mission success. My dad was a hero. As a young man, I asked him who his combat heroes were; he gave me only two names. One

  • 'Good debt' can bolster earning potential, official says

    Establishing "good debt" can be valuable for future earning potential, particularly in today's challenging economy, a Defense Department official advised here recently.Obtaining a student loan for a college education or a higher degree to pursue a professional career is an example of good debt for

  • AF looks to collaborate with public

    For the first time in its history, the U.S. Air Force is seeking input from the public to help solve three real-world, unclassified projects. Known as "The Air Force Collaboratory," the Air Force's newest STEM initiative goes live Thursday on www.airforce.com/collaboratory. The educational online

  • Two Joint Base Langley-Eustis firefighters earn national designation

    Seventy plus pages, multiple character references, years of professional development, and six to nine months of grueling waiting while the application is reviewed, is what it takes for a firefighter to be awarded the national designation of Chief Fire Officer. Only 913 firefighters in the United

  • EOD Warrior Foundation supports wounded warriors, grieving families

    No warrior left behind - a commitment at the heart of every member of the Explosive Ordnance Disposal community. Now, two groups that have supported EOD families in times of need have joined to expand their outreach and strengthen that promise.The EOD Warrior Foundation was founded in March 2013

  • Acting SecAF visits Westover ARB

    "That's a lot of iron on the ramp," Acting Secretary of the Air Force Eric Fanning said during his July 25 visit to Westover, seeing a row of 10 C-5s on the East Ramp.During his three-hour visit, the acting secretary donned a hard hat and toured the nation's largest military aircraft, flew a C-5

  • Through Airmen's Eyes: Kadena AB Airman has Nhu story to tell

    (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.)Think of taking time off, leave, or going abroad. What comes to mind? Perhaps some time for you, a way to reinvigorate or reenergize? For one staff

  • Born in the military: One family's legacy of service

    Military deployments are difficult for both the service member and the family members they leave behind. Being in a dual-military parent family doesn't make it easier, but after nearly 50 years of combined service, the current Wakefields are continuing their family's tradition."My great uncles

  • AF names primary, alternate DARPA participants

    Twelve captains, majors and lieutenant colonels have been selected as primary or alternate fiscal year 2014 Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency Service Chiefs Program participants.The program begins in September and is designed to immerse outstanding military officers into an imaginative,

  • Welsh meets with Wyoming's Total Force Airmen

    Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark A. Welsh III and his wife, Betty, visited with Airmen of 153rd Airlift Wing at the Wyoming Air National Guard Base here July 19.During an Airman's call, Welsh applauded the 153rd Airlift Wing's role in hosting the Air National Guard's first active-duty associate

  • Kehler lauds capability, credibility of nuclear enterprise

    Sweeping improvements across the U.S. nuclear enterprise since a 2007 incident have increased the focus on the nuclear mission and raised the bar in terms of standards and performance, the commander of U.S. Strategic Command told reporters July 24."In general, I feel much more comfortable today with

  • Pilot program enhances Autism care, treatment

    A congressionally mandated pilot program set to launch July 25 will enhance an existing Defense Department program that provides care and treatment for military children with autism, a senior DOD official said.Dr. Jonathan Woodson, assistant secretary of defense for health affairs and director of

  • Quality Assurance: Maintenance commander's 'eyes and ears'

    To ensure the safety of pilots and ground crews, aircraft maintainers are held to a high standard of proficiency and job knowledge in fulfilling their mission requirements.Their skills are monitored and inspected regularly by some of the career field's most knowledgeable maintainers."We cultivate a

  • CSAF says readiness harmed by steep cuts

    The rigid requirements of sequestration spending cuts have made it difficult for the Air Force to maintain readiness, the service's top officer said yesterday.Speaking to CNN's John King at the annual Aspen Institute Security Forum in Aspen, Colo., Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark A. Welsh III

  • AF officials announce fiscal 2014 force management programs

    In ongoing efforts to size and shape the force to current and future requirements, Air Force officials announced the fiscal 2014 force management programs.The Air Force ended fiscal 2012 159 Airmen over end strength and anticipates ending fiscal 2013 at or marginally over end strength. The fiscal

  • STRATCOM commander discusses mission, future of Global Strike

    The commander of U.S. Strategic Command discussed the mission and future of Air Force Global Strike Command at an all-call here July 15."The skills that we have for the nuclear deterrence mission will be needed as far into the future as I can see," Gen. C. Robert Kehler said. "As long as we have

  • Hagel talks sequestration with Joint Base Charleston civilians

    Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel discussed sequestration and defense budget cuts with several hundred Air Force civilian employees during a town hall here July 17.He opened the discussion by thanking the entire military family -- those in uniform, the federal civilians who support them, and the

  • First B-52 departs to depot for communications upgrade

    The first B-52H Stratofortress departed Barksdale Air Force Base, La., July 16 is enroute to the depot at Tinker AFB, Okla., for the Combat Network Communications Technology, or CONECT, upgrade.The CONECT upgrade will allow B-52 crews to receive and send real-time digital information such as updated

  • U.S.-Australia tracking system promotes logistics interoperability

    A new logistics tracking system between the United States and Australia will help to ensure faster, more coordinated responses to humanitarian crises and other contingencies while laying the foundation for closer cooperation across the Asia-Pacific region, the senior U.S. Pacific Command logistics

  • Joint team achieves historic trans-Atlantic medical mission

    A Brooke Army Medical Center team made medical history last week by completing the military's first trans-Atlantic movement of an adult on external lung support.A team of Army and Air Force doctors and nurses treated the patient with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, or ECMO, during a nonstop

  • Special duties require commander nomination

    The selection process for 10 special duty positions now requires unit commander nomination and hiring authority certification, Air Force Personnel Center officials said. The process change implemented this month affects staff sergeant, technical sergeant and master sergeant positions in special

  • 10 special duties become developmental opportunities

    Selection for 10 special duty fields is now a nominative rather than volunteer-based process, Air Force officials announced today. In the past, any qualified Airman who met eligibility criteria defined in the special duty catalog could apply for a special duty opportunity. However, as resources

  • Additional F-35s coming to Luke AFB

    Air Force officials announced June 27 that Luke Air Force Base, Ariz., has been chosen as the location for 72 additional F-35A Lightning IIs, bringing the eventual total number of the fifth-generation fighters expected here to 144. The Air Force's initial decision to establish an F-35 pilot training

  • National commission to visit 13 bases

    The "National Commission on the Structure of the Air Force" is planning to visit 13 Air Force locations, beginning with Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J., on July 16.Appointed by the FY13 National Defense Authorization Act, the commission is reviewing the Air Force's structure to determine if

  • Combat Air Forces to resume flying

    Combat Air Forces, or CAF, units from multiple commands began flying again today after many stopped flying in April of this year due to sequestration. The restored flying hour program represents Congressional action on the $1.8 billion overseas contingency operations reprogramming action made

  • Innovation extends ORS-1's life, mission

    The Operationally Responsive Space-1 satellite launched June 29, 2011, and has been a star Air Force performer since its first day on orbit. Members of the 1st and 7th Space Operations Squadrons celebrated the spacecraft's second birthday recently. "This is a great time to recognize all of ORS-1's

  • AF chief scientist addresses future

    The Air Force chief scientist addressed members of the Air Force Association about the Global Horizons study, which looks into the near and long-term application of science and technology in the force.Dr. Mica Endsley, who was recently appointed as the 34th Air Force chief scientist, focused her

  • VA announces $300 million in grants to help veteran homeless

    Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki announced today the award of nearly $300 million in grants that will help approximately 120,000 homeless and at-risk Veterans and their families. The grants have been awarded to 319 community agencies in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto

  • Airman crosses from deaf culture into the blue future

    The house in Norfolk, Va., was noisy. The children shouted across the house to each other. The T.V., when on, always had closed captions. The father was born able to hear and eventually lost his hearing. The mother was born deaf. They aren't aware of the noises they make. They shout occasionally--to

  • Air Force officials release first enlisted LEAP selection board results

    The U.S. Air Force Culture and Language Center recently released the results of the first Language Enabled Airman Program selection board solely for enlisted Airmen. The selection of 199 applicants nearly triples the number of enlisted Airmen in the program.The program aims to sustain, enhance and