NATO Air Policing operations

U.S. Air Force News

  • Airman completes Marine Corps NCO course

    On a muggy summer day in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, a Marine Corps instructor stood on a ledge overlooking a swamp. He looked out at his students, and his eyes found Master Sgt. Aretha Boston -- the only Airman in the platoon.

  • ‘Tent City’ brings relief to Airmen

    One thousand service members from around the U.S. are set to call Tyndall Air Force Base’s “Tent City” their temporary home while supporting base recovery efforts.

  • Tyndall AFB Access Update Oct. 23

    I would like to pass on my sincerest appreciation for your patience during this trying time. We are pushing to move as fast as possible while ensuring we maintain a safe and secure environment for you and your families.

  • Employees need to know, heed Hatch Act rules

    Department of Defense civilian employees must be aware of the law limiting political activities in the federal workplace, during duty hours, or on federal property at any time.

  • 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.

  • Air Force civilians impacted by hurricane receive AFIMSC support

    JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas (AFNS) -- Linda Alcala listened to a news report about Hurricane Florence approaching the Carolina coast. She heard about a woman whose family didn’t have enough money to evacuate, and payday wasn’t for another week.

  • 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

  • Ceremonial guardsmen ‘honor with dignity’

    The mission of the Nellis Air Force Base Honor Guard is to represent the Air Force in a variety of ceremonial functions in Southern Nevada, California, Arizona and Utah. They are responsible for rendering military honors for funeral services and various Air Force ceremonies, as well as, provide

  • Not Forgotten

    When you walk into many dining facilities in the Air Force, you see it in the corner or off to the side: the lone chair and place setting. In the hurries of our day, we become numb to the sight of it: the Prisoner of War/Missing in Action table with a setting for someone who has never returned.

  • 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

  • Panel discusses total force integration during AFA

    Former Secretary of the Air Force F. Whitten Peters moderated a panel of senior leaders examining the total force during the Air Force Association Air, Space, and Cyber Conference in National Harbor Sept. 18, 2018. The panel focused on Air Force integration of Guard and Reserve personnel into

  • “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

  • Moody A-10 engine maintainers make history

    For the first time, Moody’s 23rd Maintenance Squadron’s propulsion flight accomplished an unprecedented feat by ensuring every TF34 engine in their fleet is repaired to serviceable status.

  • Why I serve: The Kalkbrenner family

    As of 2017, approximately two million people currently serve in the U.S. military with millions of veterans serving before them in the several hundred year history of the country’s armed forces. All of these service members chose to don their respective service’s uniform for varying reasons. Many

  • Hill AFB Airmen, aircraft progress together as F-35A program matures

    Two years after the Air Force declared initial operational capability for the F-35A Lightning II, pilots and maintainers at Hill Air Force Base’s active duty 388th and reserve 419th Fighter Wings are steadily erasing the word “initial” from in front of “operational capability.”

  • Airman posthumously receives Medal of Honor

    The White House announced July 27, 2018, that Air Force Tech. Sgt. John Chapman will be posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor Aug. 22, for his extraordinary heroism during the Battle of Takur Ghar, Afghanistan, in March 2002.

  • Airman to be awarded Medal of Honor

    President Donald Trump will posthumously award the Medal of Honor to the family of a fallen U.S. Air Force Special Tactics Combat Controller at a ceremony Aug. 22 for his extraordinary heroism in March 2002 while deployed to Afghanistan.

  • PACAF welcomes new commander

    Joining a proud legacy of leaders, Gen. C.Q. Brown Jr. assumed command of Pacific Air Forces during a ceremony here, July 26, 2018.

  • 20th EBS aid in rescue off coast of Guam

    The B-52 is world-famous for its long-range capabilities, but during a routine flight near Guam June 25, 2018, crew members with the 20th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron, stationed at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana, and deployed to Andersen AFB, were tasked with a unique situation: to use their

  • Determined to make a better life

    Growing up in Gilroy, California, she had everything a girl could wish for: money, designer clothes and so much more. Shortly after high school graduation, her father took everything from her and kicked her to the streets.

  • CSAF presents French medal to WWII Army vet, AF civilian

    At a ceremony overlooking the Department of Defense Warrior Games at the U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colorado, June 2, 2018, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David L. Goldfein presented the French Legion of Honor to a World War II Army veteran for his efforts to liberate Western Europe in

  • RAF Warrant Officer leads renovation of 1st Lt. Jarvis Offutt’s grave

    The recent restoration of 1st Lt. Jarvis Offutt’s grave was sparked when a Royal Air Force rivet joint specialist, assigned to RAF Waddington’s 56 Squadron visited the grave to pay respects to the former squadron member in December 2017, at Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Nebraska.

  • Prepare now for hurricane season

    Hurricane season begins June 1 and now is the time to prepare. To promote this message, an Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunter aircrew with their WC-130J Super Hercules and a team of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration hurricane experts visited five Gulf Coast cities as part of this

  • Air Force awards first ESPC of 2018

    Recently, the Defense Logistics Agency awarded a $42 million energy savings performance contract,or ESPC, to be executed and maintained by Energy Systems Group, at Hill Air Force Base, Utah. This represents the Air Force’s first such awarded contract of 2018.

  • Iraqi Air Force aerial porters load cargo like the best

    In a small office space at Al Muthana Air Base, U.S. Air Force 370th Air Expeditionary Advisory Group air advisors and Iraqi airmen enjoy a small cup of tea together. Iraqi Air Force Col. Yossif Halo, the base air terminal operations center commander, sits with the team and casually highlights the

  • Air Force, RAF join forces for band centennial celebration

    The U.S. Air Force Concert Band and Britain’s Central Band of the Royal Air Force performed together in the RAF Centenary Concert at the Daughters of the American Revolution Constitution Hall in Washington, D.C., April 16, 2018.

  • Mobility Airmen deliver a mission of love to Guatemala

    The Denton Program is a Department of Defense transportation program that moves humanitarian cargo, donated by U.S. based non-governmental organizations to developing nations to ease human suffering. The approved cargo is transported by DoD land, air or sea assets on a space-available basis and is

  • OTS: ‘The assignment I never knew I needed’

    Sometimes there are things in life that happen to you that are so unexpected that you fail to comprehend their inherent value. Such was the case for me in my assignment to Officer Training School.

  • Ensuring the fallen are sent home with honor

    Upon returning from the theater of operations to the U. S., a solemn dignified transfer is conducted upon arrival at Dover Air Force Base, Delaware, when a Air Force carry team transfers the remains from the aircraft to a transfer vehicle to honor those who have given their lives in service to

  • Vandenberg AFB unveils solar array project

    Local elected officials, key Vandenberg Air Force Base leaders, base affiliates and local media came together for the 28 megawatt solar photovoltaic array dedication, April 10, 2018, at Vandenberg AFB.

  • AF unveils official portrait of 23rd SecAF

    A portrait of former Secretary of the Air Force Deborah Lee James was unveiled during a ceremony at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, Washington, D.C., April 6, 2018.

  • JBLE Airman overcomes struggle by paying it forward

    U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Michael Svoleantopoulos, 497th Operations Support Squadron weapons tactician, returned from the U.S. Air Force Pararescue Indoctrination Course much sooner than he anticipated. Svoleantopoulos spent the previous three years mentally and physically training for his goal to

  • AFCEC, OEA reach new milestone in partnership

    The Air Force Civil Engineer Center and the Office of Energy Assurance recently attended a historic Energy Savings Performance Contract preliminary assessment kick-off at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia.

  • National Defense Strategy drives Air Force budget

    Secretary of the Air Force Heather Wilson and Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David L. Goldfein testified before the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Appropriations about the Air Force’s fiscal year 2019 budget in Washington, D.C., March 14, 2018.

  • Corona returns to Maxwell AFB

    The Air Force’s top leaders convened at Maxwell AFB for the annual Corona South conference, Feb. 25 - 28, 2018 to discuss present and future issues regarding the Air Force.

  • 122nd FW takes joint training to new heights

    The 122nd Fighter Wing recently completed Operation Guardian Blitz during a two-week joint training exercise at MacDill Air Force Base, Florida, which included air-to-air refueling, training alongside Navy rotary assets and joint terminal attack controllers.

  • FYI: Blended Retirement System

    One of the most wide-reaching and significant changes to military pay and benefits over the last 70 years took effect Jan. 1, 2018, with the implementation of the Uniformed Services Blended Retirement System, known as BRS. Nearly 1.6 million current service members have the option to remain in the

  • RPA aviators recognized with Doolittle Award

    Airmen assigned to the 432nd Wing/432nd Air Expeditionary Wing at Creech Air Force Base, Nevada, received the Air Force Historical Foundation’s 2017, James H. “Jimmy” Doolittle Award, Jan. 30, 2018, at the U.S. Air Force Memorial in Arlington, Va., for their contributions to aviation history.

  • SECAF/CSAF Letter to Airmen: Government Shutdown

    To the Airmen of the United States Air Force:As you are no doubt aware, funding for the federal government expired at midnight. The administration is urging Congress to enact a short term continuing resolution to fund the federal government to allow Congress more time to finalize the budget for the

  • DoD issues guidance for potential government shutdown

    The Defense Department has issued guidance to its military and civilian leadership on how to proceed if the federal government should shut down at midnight tonight, according to a memorandum from Deputy Defense Secretary Patrick M. Shanahan.

  • Mathies NCOA: Developing enlisted leaders

    More than 750 NCOs walk through the double doors of the Mathies NCO Academy on Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi, every year. After six weeks, they walk out ready to make their Air Force a better, more capable organization.

  • AFJROTC launches Flight Academy program to address aircrew shortage

    Headquarters Air Force Junior ROTC has launched a program aimed at potentially putting more pilots in the cockpits of military aircraft to help address the Air Force’s ongoing aircrew shortage.Beginning in the summer of 2018, select AFJROTC cadets who applied for a new Fight Academy scholarship will

  • Volunteering with the Stars

    Tech. Sgt. Rebecca Place, 21st Medical Squadron primary care element noncommissioned officer in charge, and two other volunteers participated in Snowball Express in Dallas, Dec. 9-13, 2017. Snowball Express is an all-expenses paid event for children of fallen military members. This event is meant to

  • Wellness for mission success

    Physical health is at the core of a person’s ability to complete their mission. If they are injured or sick, or exhausted, they might be able to show up and do work, but their effectiveness will be diminished.

  • Air Force finance workshop offers training for technicians

    Financial customer service technicians from around the Air Force will visit San Antonio in late January for three days of training designed to enhance their skills and abilities to meet issues and challenges they face at base level finance offices.

  • Blended Military Retirement System to take effect Jan. 1

    One of the most wide-reaching and significant changes to military pay and benefits over the last 70 years goes into effect Jan. 1 with the implementation of the Uniformed Services Blended Retirement System, known as BRS.

  • Cyber operations Airmen 'Hack the Air Force'

    Within 30 seconds of receiving the order to “start hacking,” researchers at the Hack the Air Force 2.0 event discovered two vulnerabilities—exactly the result the organizers were hoping for.The researchers were cyber security specialists invited to the Dec. 9, 2017 event in New York to identify

  • AF awards recognize pilot excellence

    With a continued focus on solving the pilot retention problem and maintaining air dominance, Air Force senior leaders look to celebrate the culture and flying expertise of their pilots.

  • Around the Air Force: Dec. 1

    On this look around the Air Force the preferred location for a new MQ-9 Reaper wing is selected, continuation pay rates are announced for the Blended Retirement System (BRS), and Exercise Lightning Focus is taking place in Australia. Hosted by Staff Sgt. Anastasia Tompkins.

  • AF travelers reminded of flat rate per diem policy

    Some Air Force travelers may not be aware of a flat rate per diem policy established a few years ago that focused on extended temporary duty travel.Congress instituted the flat rate in November 2014. The new policy reduced per diem from 100 percent to 75 percent for TDYs from 31 to 180 days and to

  • AFGSC wraps up innovation and technology symposium

    The 2017 Air Force Global Strike Command Innovation and Technology Symposium concluded today at the Shreveport Convention Center with a focus on leadership and the Airmen who make the mission happen. Retired Command Sgt. Maj. Patrick Alston, former U.S. Strategic Command command senior enlisted

  • AFPC offers follow-on option to Airmen taking short tours

    Airmen selected for a dependent-restricted short tour for their second or later assignments can voluntarily apply to participate in the Follow-On assignment program, providing them greater flexibility in the assignment process and greater stability for their families.

  • AU-ABC program expands enlisted education opportunities

    Airmen join the Air Force for a variety of reasons, but perhaps the most common is for the service’s vast educational opportunities. The Air University-Associate-to-Baccalaureate Cooperative program, or AU-ABC, is perhaps a little-known opportunity that can reap big rewards.The AU-ABC was created to

  • Federal Benefits Open Season runs through Dec. 11

    This year's Federal Benefits Open Season runs from Nov. 13 through Dec. 11, 2017, and includes the Federal Employees Health Benefits program, the Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program and the Federal Flexible Spending Account program.

  • MDG commander battles breast cancer with the help of Tricare

    “I knew my life was going to change, I knew I was not in control, and that’s what scared me the most.” These are the thoughts that ran through Col. Theresa Medina’s mind as she was notified that she was diagnosed with breast cancer.

  • Be there, be aware: Help prevent suicide

    When we focus on our health, it’s easy to pay attention to physical health versus mental well-being. Ignoring mental health concerns like anxiety and depression can lead to worsening symptoms and more serious issues. For some people, these issues may include an increased risk of suicide.

  • AF expands Career Intermission Program opportunities

    The Air Force has changed the Career Intermission Program to expand participation opportunities for Airmen from one application window each year to three. In addition, Airmen with humanitarian circumstances may submit out-of-cycle CIP applications, as can dual-military married Airmen when a join

  • 50 years of the CMSAF celebrated

    The 50th anniversary of the chief master sergeant of the Air Force was celebrated during the Air Force Association Air, Space and Cyber Conference Sept. 20, 2017.

  • JET/IA Airmen connect blue line back to AF

    The 387th Air Expeditionary Squadron is a small unit. With about 10 assigned staff, and 20 quick-response aerial port Airmen, they have a small footprint. Their reach, however, is far more expansive than meets the eye. They have the responsibility of providing all levels of administrative support to