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  • US Airmen teach Romanian airmen airfield management

    Members of the 435th Air Ground Operations Wing air advisor branch provide Romanian airmen at Campia Turzii, Romania, the opportunity to learn about U.S. Air Force airfield management operations March 10 to 27 during Dacian Warhawk, a two-week training mission designed to increase the

  • Future of combat aviation requires funding

    Senior leaders from the Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps testified on the future programs and platforms of combat aviation forces, and budget needs, in a hearing with the House Armed Services Committee March 27.

  • Civil engineer bowls his way to world championship

    Nick Brett, the water and fuels shop chief for the 423rd Civil Engineer Squadron, earned the title of number one indoor bowler in the world, when he faced off against, and defeated, six-time world champion, Alex Marshall.

  • U.S. air advisors reach milestone with Colombian air force

    Members of the 571st Mobility Support Advisory Squadron (MSAS), from Travis Air Force Base, finalized their training with members of the Colombian air force while observing their performance of an airdrop mission near Bogota, Colombia, March 4, 2015.

  • AF holds Medal of Honor recognition event

    In observance of National Medal of Honor Day, Air Force senior leaders hosted a Q-and-A session with two of the Air Force's living Medal of Honor recipients, retired Col. Joe M. Jackson and retired Col. Leo K. Thorsness at the Pentagon, March 24.

  • CSAF visits Arizona’s tanker wing, thanks Guard members

    Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark A. Welsh III and his wife, Betty, visited the Arizona Air National Guard's 161st Air Refueling Wing here March 22, to discuss the future of the Air Force, meet Airmen and their families, and thank them for their service.

  • Doolittle Tokyo Raiders to receive Congressional Gold Medal

    Seventy-three years ago, 80 men achieved the unimaginable when they took off from an aircraft carrier on a top secret mission to bomb Japan. These men, led by Lt. Col. James H. "Jimmy" Doolittle, came to be known as the Doolittle Tokyo Raiders.

  • AF releases results of Space Launch Process review

    The Air Force announced March 23, that the phase one results of the independent review panel tasked by Secretary of the Air Force Deborah Lee James to review the process for certifying SpaceX as an Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV) provider.

  • Sequestration threatens America’s airpower advantage

    Air Force senior leaders testified to the Senate Armed Services Committee Subcommittee on Airland March 19, and said with the return of sequestration-level funding, America’s airpower advantage is increasingly at risk.

  • Alaska Air Guard Supports CJTF-HOA Rescue Missions

    The 81st Expeditionary Rescue Squadron is one of the three Expeditionary Rescue Squadrons assigned to the 449th Air Expeditionary Group in support of the Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti. The squadron is the epitome of the Total Force Integration, providing

  • NCO banishes mountain of paperwork to the PIT

    As years of logbooks and paper records stacked up in the 436th Airlift Wing Non-destructive Inspection lab, they needed to find a way to improve both their record logging system and their efficiency.Leadership knew they had a young, computer savvy Airman and they turned to him for the answer.

  • Planning, execution and management of OCS critical to military operations

    More than $30 billion was lost from contract waste and fraud during military contingencies in Iraq and Afghanistan from 2001 to 2011, according to a congressionally chartered Commission on Wartime Contracting report from 2011.The Commission concluded that the loss could have been avoided through

  • Service members involved in UH-60 crash identified

    It is with a heavy heart that the U.S. Marine Corps Forces, U.S. Special Operations Command and the Louisiana National Guard formally announced the names of the seven Marines and four Soldiers who died in an Army UH-60 Black Hawk crash near Eglin Air Force Base, at approximately 8:30 p.m., March 10.

  • CMSAF addresses Offutt’s concerns

    Airmen were not short on questions during Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James A. Cody’s visit to Offutt Air Force Base March 11-12. It was clear, serving in the Air Force with an ever-changing environment has created challenges, but for its highest ranking enlisted Airman those obstacles are

  • Space planning essential to battle success

    "Space, the final frontier," can mean a lot to people in different careers, but is the vast blackness filled with mesmerizing intergalactic-lights important to today's warfighter?According to Capt. Jamil Brown, the 607th Air Operations Center chief of space plans, space is a newer concept to

  • Lakenheath Airman rescues allies, earns Airman's Medal

    Staff Sgt. Greggory Swarz, a 492nd Aircraft Maintenance Unit electrical environmental systems specialist, was awarded the Airman's Medal for saving the lives of three French airmen after a Hellenic air force F-16 Fighting Falcon crashed into the parking ramp at Los Llanos Air Base, Spain, during

  • From refugee camp to the Air Force

    Senior Airman Yia Thao, a 19th Airlift Wing Judge Advocate paralegal, was raised to know that hard work reaps great rewards. The work ethic and dedication that builds a better future runs deep in his family and continues through Thao and his siblings today.

  • To shoot, or not to shoot

    Excessive use of force by law enforcement is a topic which has plagued U.S. headlines more than once in 2014. While the civilian police force is responsible for deescalating a situation at the lowest level, the military is held to the same standard.

  • McConnell Airmen save veteran's life

    The largest winter storm this year struck early on the morning of Feb. 28, and without the quick thinking of Airmen at McConnell Air Force Base, Kansas, the substantial amount of snow and ice it brought could have cost a life.

  • PACE to forge professional Airmen

    Forging professional Airmen was the focus of Gen. Robin Rand, commander of Air Education and Training Command, as he officiated a ceremony March 11, formally recognizing the Profession of Arms Center of Excellence at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph.

  • How to: The Airman Comprehensive Assessment

    It has been nearly half a year since the release and implementation of the new Airman Comprehensive Assessment, a comprehensive worksheet that aids in creating feedback between a supervisor/rater and their ratee. AF.mil reviews the form that guides supervisors through the conversation with their

  • Airman helps strengthen bond between US, China

    An Airman assigned to the 15th Operations Support Squadron here, is tapping into a unique set of skills to support the U.S. Pacific Command's priority of strengthening its foreign partnerships. Capt. Joshua Hu, a 15th OSS executive officer, speaks Mandarin Chinese and has used his ability to

  • US, South Korean air forces sharpen cyberspace defense

    Attacks, counter-attacks, bombs, rescues, evacuations and logistics are all elements of conflict. For the participants of Key Resolve 2015, these actions and other important elements of combat come through a buzzing hard drive rather than from a physical foe.

  • Blake paved way for thousands of Air Force women

    At the first available opportunity to return to her roots, Staff Sgt. Esther Blake transferred from the Army to the Air Force on July 8, 1948, minutes after the start of the first duty day for the WAF, along with 11 other women at Fort McPherson, near Atlanta. She remained on active duty with the

  • RQ-4B soars past 10,000 flying hours

    An RQ-4B Global Hawk embarked on an Operation Inherent Resolve mission March 7, which sent the aircraft soaring past the 10,000 flying-hour milestone at an undisclosed location in Southwest Asia.

  • Ground equipment Airmen keep aircraft aloft

    It’s the minute details of tasks that make what Airmen do so vital to accomplishing their missions. For the Aerospace Ground Equipment (AGE) flight, these details have a profound impact on flightline operations each day.

  • Bagram remembers Operation Anaconda’s fallen

    Senior Airman Jason Cunningham and six of his special forces comrades including Tech. Sgt. John Chapman, Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Neil Roberts, Army Sgt. Bradley Crose, Army Sgt. Phillip Svitak, Army Spc. Marc Anderson and Army Cpl. Matthew Commons, traded their blood for freedom in the

  • SecAF introduces diversity initiatives

    Secretary of the Air Force Deborah Lee James kicked off Women’s History Month by speaking to attendees during the Center for a New American Security “Women and Leadership in National Security” conference in Washington, D.C., March 4, 2015.  “There’s simply no country in the world as widely diverse

  • AF responds to National Commission on the Structure of the Air Force

    The Air Force responded to the National Commission on the Structure of the Air Force’s recommendations in a report to Congress March 4. Of the Commission’s 42 recommendations, Air Force officials disagreed with only one and are already in the process of implementing 25, as well as developing plans

  • March issue of Airman magazine now available

    In this issue or Airman, our cover story tells the story of Master Sgt. Randy Rollins and his journey as a child who tinkers on Volkswagen Beetles with his uncle, to an Airman who tinkers on the C-5 Galaxy.

  • 32 Airmen to enter Career Intermission Program

    Thirty-four officer and enlisted Airmen were selected to participate in the Air Force's Career Intermission Program which offers from one to three years of partially paid time out of uniform to focus on personal and professional pursuits. Two of those selected have since voluntarily withdrawn their

  • Vietnam War veterans honored during ceremony at AF Memorial

    More than 100 service members, civilians and veterans braved the cold and icy weather to honor prisoners of war and those missing in action during the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War commemoration ceremony and wreath-laying March 2, at the Air Force Memorial in Arlington, Virginia.

  • AF trials underway for 2015 Warrior Games

    U.S. Air Force, U.S. Army, British and Australian wounded warriors are fighting for a chance to compete at the 2015 Warrior Games during the Air Force Trials Feb. 27 through March 5, at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada.

  • Enlisted European leaders attend first sergeant symposium

    Enlisted leaders from air forces throughout Europe visited Ramstein Air Base, Germany to attend the Kaiserslautern Military Community First Sergeant Council's First Sergeant Symposium along with 120 Airmen from around the KMC Feb. 23 to 27.

  • Manpower: Man behind the math

    Having risen to the height of public interest since the commencement of Operation Resolute Support in January, the drawdown of U.S.

  • Two-man shop engineers mission success

    The importance of the CE mission is vital at Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan, and with the eyes of the world following the development of the region; the execution of KAF’s engineering operation rests squarely on the shoulders of only two Airmen.

  • AF leaders seek relief from sequestration-level funding

    Secretary of the Air Force Deborah Lee James and Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark A. Welsh III discussed the damaging effects of sequestration with members of the House of Representatives Committee on Appropriations’ Defense Subcommittee Feb. 27.

  • Air Force places 18 A-10 aircraft into 'Backup Status'

    The Air Force, with congressional authorization, will convert 18 primary combat-coded A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft from active units and place them into Backup-Aircraft Inventory (BAI) status with the possibility to convert another 18 at a later date in fiscal year 2015.

  • ‘Military Saves Week’ highlights personal finance issues

    Defense Department officials have designated Feb. 23-28, as “Military Saves Week” to highlight the need for military families to reduce debt and save for the future, something Pentagon officials emphasize is key to force readiness.

  • AF senior leaders caution against sequestration

    The Air Force’s top two leaders justified their service’s funding proposal in the fiscal year 2016 President’s Budget request to members of the Senate Appropriations Committee during an Air Force posture hearing Feb. 25, in Washington, D.C.

  • CHIEFchat: TA rumors, slowing the growth of pay, benefits

    During his latest CHIEFchat, Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James A. Cody put to rest rumors of changes to tuition assistance. He also discussed military pay and benefits, the growing cyber domain, and master sergeant evaluation boards.

  • Staff sergeant beats cancer

    For many people, Independence Day is all about celebration, spending time with family and watching fireworks light up the night sky, but on July 4, 2014, there was no celebrating for Staff Sgt. Richard L. Johnson.

  • 2014 Air Force safety awards announced

    Air Force Chief of Safety Maj. Gen. Kurt F. Neubauer recently announced the recipients of the Secretary of the Air Force, Chief of Staff and Chief of Safety Awards for 2014.

  • Airmen missing from WWII accounted for

    The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) announced Feb. 23, that the remains of U.S. servicemen, missing in action from World War II, have been accounted for and are being returned to their families for burial with full military honors.

  • Mere minutes between life and death

    Staff Sgt. Wade Owen helped save the lives of Joe Akin, a retired Army veteran, by kicking down the door to Akin’s residence after he had succumbed to a nearly lethal dose of carbon monoxide.

  • Natural disaster response improved at Cope North 15

    More than 300 service members from six countries joined together to conduct the humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HA/DR) portion of exercise Cope North 15 from Feb. 15 to 18, at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, and throughout the region of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.

  • Fueling the Strike Eagle's fire

    The shimmering heat waves that emanate from jet exhaust, the rumble of twin Pratt and Whitney engines, the unmistakable aroma of pure Jet A fuel. The sights, sounds and smells of F-15E Strike Eagles in flight are made possible in part by the tireless efforts of a group of Airmen strategically placed

  • Nuclear oversight board members visit Minot AFB

    More than three dozen members of the Air Force's senior leadership, including Secretary of the Air Force Deborah Lee James and Chief of Staff of the Air Force Gen. Mark A. Welsh III, converged on Minot Air Force Base for a meeting of the Nuclear Oversight Board here today. The NOB is a quarterly

  • ISR invests in infrastructure, Airmen

    Increasing demands for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, coupled with limited funding across the Air Force, were discussed during the Air Force Association’s monthly breakfast Feb. 18, in Arlington, Virginia.

  • Academy, Kirtland Airmen rewarded for API ideas

    A human resources assistant at the Air Force Academy and an Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center (AFOTEC) officer at Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico, will be among the first to receive financial rewards from the Airmen Powered by Innovation program.

  • Priorities of AF acquisition outlined at symposium

    Dr. William A. LaPlante, the assistant secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, outlined the Air Force's top acquisition priorities during the Air Force Association’s annual Air Warfare Symposium and Technology Exposition Feb. 13, in Orlando, Florida.

  • Buckley Airman 'strikes out' competition

    Some people never get the chance to turn their hobbies into achievements, but one 2nd Space Warning Squadron Airman proved that if you work hard enough, you can accomplish anything you set your mind to.

  • Airmen are the key to air power

    Secretary of the Air Force Deborah Lee James talked about the importance of a healthy budget, innovation and developing Airmen as key pieces to remaining the world’s greatest air power, during the Air Force Association’s annual Air Warfare Symposium and Technology Exposition Feb. 13, in Orlando,

  • International Affairs partners talk cooperation

    Ms. Heidi Grant, deputy under secretary of the Air Force Office of International Affairs, conducted a question and answer panel consisting of partner air force leaders from Denmark, Australia and United Arab Emirates during the Air Force Association’s annual Air Warfare Symposium and Technology

  • AF chief of staff: Call to the future

    Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark A. Welsh III shared his thoughts on where the Air Force is, where it’s going and how it’s going to get there with an audience at the Air Force Association’s annual Air Warfare Symposium and Technology Exposition Feb. 12, in Orlando, Florida.

  • Cody gives enlisted perspective at AFA

    Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James A. Cody outlined his top priorities for the enlisted force during the Air Force Association’s annual Air Warfare Symposium and Technology Exposition in Orlando, Florida, Feb. 12.

  • PMEL: The standard's standard

    Zero mistakes. That's the standard the precision measurement equipment laboratory (PMEL) technicians are held to on a daily basis. One mistake in their shop could mean the difference between a guided weapons system firing on target or missing by several feet.

  • AF conducts massive protected MILSATCOM test

    The Air Force concluded a six-month rigorous and complex multiservice operational test and evaluation of its Advanced Extremely High Frequency (AEHF)system in January at Schriever Air Force Base, Colorado.

  • AF top leaders mentor future Airmen

    More than 30 Air Force general officers offered their time and expertise to high school students during the Black Engineer of the Year Award (BEYA) Conference Feb. 6, at the Washington Marriott Wardman Park Hotel.

  • AF Ebola support winds down

    After more than four months of continuous airlift support to Operation United Assistance, the U.S. Air Force is winding down efforts in Senegal, Monrovia and Liberia.

  • DISA rolls out DOD online communication tool

    The Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) is rolling out a new online collaboration tool that offers Defense Department employees anywhere in the world secure web conferencing and secure instant messaging and chat capabilities.

  • 20th CES wins conservation award

    The 20th Civil Engineer Squadron installation management flight at Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina, was awarded the General Thomas D. White Natural Resources Conservation Award in the large base installation category.

  • Greek, US training reaffirms rock-solid friendship

    With the White Mountains of Crete as their backdrop, U.S. and Hellenic air forces F-16 Fighting Falcon fighter aircraft soared to great heights and speeds as part of a continuing flying training deployment (FTD) Jan. 16 through Feb. 13 at Souda Bay, Greece.

  • Weather flight Airmen continue to support Bagram operations

    On an average day, the most critical information conveyed by a forecast might be whether it's advisable to carry an umbrella or not. However, the counsel of weather forecasters at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, has the power to ground planes.

  • Maintaining the technological edge

    Vice Chief of Staff of the Air Force Gen. Larry O. Spencer urged members of the Air Force Scientific Advisory Board (SAB) to help the service maintain their technological edge at their winter board meeting Jan. 27.

  • AF introduces Volume 9 of Portraits in Courage

    The Air Force released its ninth volume of Portraits in Courage, highlighting five teams and seven individual Airman for their honor, valor, devotion and selfless sacrifice in the face of extreme danger to themselves and others.

  • A dream born from chaos

    In the early hours of Dec. 20, 1989, when most of Panama City was sleeping, a 10-year-old boy and his family were awakened by explosions and helicopters overhead. The family exited their home, only to witness pandemonium: buildings burning down, people running and screaming. War was reality for

  • Generating airpower: Chiefs of the flightline

    Maintainers have to be efficient in maintaining every aspect of their aircraft. Some days are spent crewing a specific jet for the day's flights, others are dedicated to the many demands of the maintenance world, it's difficult to put into words all that a crew chief does.

  • CMSAF visits Airmen, stresses importance of USAFE mission

    Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James A. Cody and his wife, retired Chief Master Sgt. Athena Cody, met with Airmen from bases around U.S. Air Forces in Europe during visits, Jan. 25-31, to thank them and their families for their service, and to discuss the future of USAFE.

  • Cope South experts exchange knowledge, techniques

    The flight line here at exercise Cope South 15 (CS15) is usually a flurry of activity every morning, with maintainers firing up auxiliary power units and loadmasters finalizing their cargo plan.However on Jan. 27, there wasn't a single C-130 Hercules aircraft engine running. Instead, U.S. and

  • Air Force names 2-star to lead F-35 Integration Office

    With the initial operating capability date of the F-35 Lightning II quickly approaching, the Air Force appointed Maj. Gen. Jeffrey Harrigian as the director of a larger Air Force F-35 Integration Office, Feb. 1.

  • Air Force risks becoming too small to succeed under sequestration

    During testimony on Capitol Hill Jan. 28, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark A. Welsh III stressed the negative impact sequestration will have on future Air Force capabilities, emphasizing further budget cuts will lead to low morale and declined readiness in the Air Force.

  • For the love of shooting

    If you were to ask Staff Sgt. Alan Daly to explain the role combat arms instructors play in the success of the 48th Fighter Wing mission, he would say that the base is a “forward, ready, now” base."That's what we do. We deploy," said the 48th Security Forces Squadron combat arms instructor.