HomeNews

NATO Air Policing operations

U.S. Air Force News

  • AF rolls out FY 2017 space budget

    Air Force leaders met with the media to discuss specifics of the service’s fiscal year 2017 space budget at the Pentagon Feb. 11.

  • AF remembers pioneer of DOD transportation

    Retired Gen. Duane F. Cassidy, the first "dual-hatted" commander of both U.S. Transportation Command and Military Airlift Command, passed away Feb. 8 at the age of 82.

  • SecAF, CSAF testify on FY 2017 AF posture

    Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James and Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark A. Welsh III testified before the Senate Appropriations Committee on the fiscal year 2017 Air Force posture on Capitol Hill Feb. 10.

  • New runway opens, enhances readiness

    The Army Corps of Engineers, 51st Civil Engineer and 51st Operations Support Squadron completed a five-year project of constructing a new runway for Osan Air Base, South Korea, and began flying operations in January.

  • AF presents fiscal year 2017 budget

    The Air Force presented its fiscal year 2017 president's budget request Feb. 9 following the Defense Department and sister services’ budget briefings. The Air Force requested a top-line budget of $120.4 billion in Air Force-controlled funding that continues to take care of people, strike the right

  • Arabian Gulf Shield improves interoperability

    Training concluded Feb. 3 at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar, with a scenario designed to test Gulf Cooperation Council Liaison Officer (GCC LNO) procedures and connectivity to host nation air operations centers.

  • KC-135 integral to F-16 training in Greece

    The first time the Air Force attempted to refuel an aircraft in flight, aircrews successfully stayed aloft for 151 hours. That was over 85 years ago, and the Air Force today has made quite a few innovations since then.

  • Biking brings hope to wounded, recovering veterans

    Members from Creech Air Force Base, Nevada, volunteered as part of the Ride 2 Recovery (R2R) program and brought more than 20 wounded and recovering veterans together for the Vegas Challenge Feb. 1-3 in Blue Diamond, Nevada.

  • Comm Airmen keep $84M network running

    With hundreds of thousands of megabytes of data whizzing along miles of fiber optic wire, only stopping briefly to be digested by a network computer before blazing off to its next destination, managing this cyber domain requires a skilled team of expertly trained individuals; in the case of a

  • Super Bowl air coverage provided by Air Force

    The skies above Levi's Stadium, home of the San Francisco 49ers, in Santa Clara, California, will be a well-protected fortress, defended by one of the most feared weapon systems in the Defense Department's inventory. F-15 Eagles, from the California Air National Guard, have been training in the

  • Planning to quit, fighting to succeed: Airman earns Ranger tab

    Staff Sgt. Robert Keefe, the 736th Security Forces Squadron NCO in charge of training, was the 266th Airmen to graduate U.S. Army Ranger School. It was his chance to prove his mettle as a combat-ready Airman among some of the military’s toughest warriors.

  • Carter talks budget, readiness with Nellis community

    Defense Secretary Ash Carter visited Nellis Air Force Base Feb. 4, during the last leg of his defense budget installation visits. After meeting with service members at the California-based Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake and Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Carter spoke to Nellis Airmen to

  • Luke pilot flies 500th hour in F-35

    A 61st Fighter Squadron pilot made history Feb. 2 as the first Luke Air Force Base pilot to achieve 500 flight hours in an F-35 Lightning II. Lt. Col. Matthew Hayden, also the 56th Fighter Wing chief of safety, achieved this milestone flying his 270th sortie, a routine training mission.

  • Success through total force integration at Red Flag 16-1

    It’s a given that no aircraft leaves the ground unless it is working properly. But that maintenance challenge has been multiplied here during the three-week Red Flag 16-1 exercise. With almost 80 aircraft taking off twice daily during Red Flag, hundreds of aircraft maintainers assigned to flying

  • 3-time Super Bowl champ, AF pilot reflects on America’s game

    Super Bowl 50 is just days away and it’s hard not to wonder how one of the U.S. Air Force Academy’s best all-time players fits into that history. Chad Hennings won three Super Bowls with the Dallas Cowboys during the 1990s, and his first appearance was within a year’s time of flying his A-10

  • AF Selective Re-enlistment Bonus program list triples

    Air Force officials released details on the fiscal year 2016 Selective Re-enlistment Bonus program Feb. 1. This year’s program, consisting of 117 Air Force specialties eligible to receive bonuses, is a substantial increase from the previous year’s program where 40 Air Force specialty codes were

  • Maintainers put the fight in fighter at Souda Bay

    More than 15 F-16 Fighter Falcons assigned to the 480th Fighter Squadron at Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, are on a forward training deployment at Souda Bay, Greece, for bilateral training with the Hellenic Air Force until Feb. 15.

  • Yokota Airmen help prepare Sailors for refuels

    Airmen fuelers from the 374th Logistics Readiness Squadron provided essential training on the R-11 refueling trucks to Sailors from Naval Air Facility Atsugi, Japan, at Yokota Air Base Jan. 25-29. The training allowed members to prepare to support Navy aircraft at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam,

  • Racking up miles: Incirlik Airman cycles for AF

    The air is crisp like the frost on the ground; winter is approaching as Senior Master Sgt. Jason Chiasson hops onto his sleek road bike. Today he will only ride 25 miles, a short day compared to the 100-mile days in his strict training schedule as an Air Force Cycling Team cyclist.

  • US, Japan participate in Keen Edge 16

    Members from the Japan Self-Defense Forces and United States Forces Japan came together to conduct a joint-bilateral command post exercise Keen Edge 16 at Yokota Air Base, Japan, from Jan. 23-29; this was the 14th command post exercise since 1986.

  • Buddy Wing showcases South Korea, US alliance

    U.S. Airmen from the 36th Fighter Squadron and Aircraft Maintenance Unit traveled to Seosan Air Base, South Korea, to participate in exercise Buddy Wing with South Korean air force personnel from the 121st Fighter Squadron, 20th Fighter Wing, from Jan. 25-29.

  • Airmen work in concert to execute rapid global mobility

    Airmen like Staff Sgt. Justin Worcester, a KC-135 Stratotanker crew chief, defend their country by making sure the U.S. can quickly move people and equipment around the world at a moment's notice. This is executing rapid global mobility, Air Mobility Command's top priority.

  • Astronaut rescue exercise proves Airmen ready to support space mission

    It's not common an astronaut must be rescued out of rough open waters after descending home to Earth in a crewed capsule; but when those space race-era days of human space flight return, a small Air Force detachment knows they will be ready. The 45th Operations Group’s Detachment 3 joined NASA's

  • Offutt gives students a chance at mechanics

    Students studying airframe and power plant disciplines at Iowa Western Community College have a unique opportunity to intern with the 55th Maintenance Squadron at Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska, after the squadron cut roughly 300 military slots and replaced them with approximately 150 civilian

  • Airman helps search for Vietnam War remains

    When Tech. Sgt. Robin Bailon enlisted in Air Force in 2000, she didn't expect her career to place her in Vietnam, serving as a life science investigator. But Bailon, an aircrew flight equipment specialist by trade, had the opportunity to venture far outside the scope of her traditional duties,

  • STRATCOM chief talks nuclear deterrence, modernization

    The global security environment calls for a continued strong nuclear deterrent along with modernization for elements of the nuclear triad and advanced training for U.S. Strategic Command’s workforce, the STRATCOM commander said Jan. 22 during a Washington, D.C., event.

  • B-52 veteran recalls close call on Desert Storm mission

    “Pilot, we have a lock-on,” the B-52 Stratofortress electronic warfare officer called out in surprise. Capt. Jim Bowles, a B-52 instructor pilot, gritted his teeth, looked downward and sure enough, an SA-6 surface-to-air missile had been launched in his direction.

  • Air Force implements additional security measures

    In response to tragic events that have taken place on and off installations over the past few years, Air Force commanders can take additional measures to secure personnel and property on their installations through three programs that allow service members to carry weapons.

  • Airman’s quick, calm response helps save life

    "He couldn't talk. He couldn't move," said Staff Sgt. Christina Begeal, a 22nd Medical Group aerospace medical technician. "So I told him, 'If you can hear me, squeeze my hand -- one for yes, two for no,' and he could do that."

  • A shared love, goal, mission

    Since beginning their careers in 2005, Majs. Regina Wall and Jared Wall have shared almost every duty station and multiple deployments together.

  • A look back at Desert Storm, 25 years later

    Twenty-five years ago, the Air Force participated in Operation Desert Storm, the largest air campaign since the conflict in Southeast Asia. The campaign’s purpose was to drive the Iraqi military out of Kuwait, release the country from Saddam Hussein’s invasion and reestablish its sovereignty.

  • Desert Storm: 2nd Bomb Wing leads the air war

    In the early morning of Jan. 16, 1991, the 2nd Bomb Wing deployed seven B-52G Stratofortresses and crews to Iraq in a single, secret mission that would mark the beginning of Operation Desert Storm.

  • B-1B Lancer sets rotational records before leaving downrange

    A B-1B Lancer that achieved rotational milestones is scheduled to leave Al Udeid Air Base soon for a six-month hiatus for aircraft modifications stateside. The B-1 has been under the operational support of the 379th Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron,and has set records during the

  • Army, Air Force collaborate on education, innovation

    Gen. David G. Perkins, the commanding general of the U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC), visited officials from Air Education and Training Command Jan. 7-8 to collaborate with Air Force leaders on advancing education and innovation within the respective military services.

  • Blowing up the competition

    The 366th Operations Support Squadron won the Defense Logistics Agency Range of the Year award. Although there isn't a trophy or plaque presented, the range personnel have earned bragging rights for their use of excess property.

  • AF Safety Center marks 20th anniversary

    This year the Air Force Safety Center commemorates the organization's 20th anniversary. Since its designation, the basic mission has remained the same: preserving lives and combat capability through mishap prevention.

  • More sexual assault reports show growing trust in system

    More military service academy cadets and midshipmen in the 2014-15 school year reported instances of sexual assault and harassment, indicating growing trust in the reporting system, a Defense Department official said Jan. 7.

  • McChord Airman saves girl from drowning

    In or out of uniform, Airmen are required to uphold the Air Force’s core values at all times, and should always be aware of their surroundings. Staff Sgt. Matthew Siegele, the 627th Force Support Squadron sports and fitness NCO in charge, had his situational awareness tested Jan. 1 when a little

  • KC-135s surpass 100,000 combat hours

    The KC-135 Stratotanker fleet at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar, flew more than 14,700 sorties in 2015 accumulating 103,419 combat hours in support of Operations Inherent Resolve and Freedom’s Sentinel.

  • Airman balances cycling with Air Guard mission

    With endurance cycling, nearly every part of the sport is tough; from the demands of distance and the quality of the competitors, to the changing natural elements on any given day. For Tech. Sgt. Dwayne Farr, those difficulties pale in comparison with splitting his time between the grind of bicycle

  • Deployed loadmasters fix problems ‘on the fly’

    A weasel is characterized by its tenacity, persistence and keen senses. It is an animal also known for its ability to react quickly in any given situation. An airlift squadron at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, shares these characteristics. Airmen of the 774th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron encompass

  • Green Dot to roll out across the Air Force

    Airmen will take the first step of a five-year strategy to decrease interpersonal violence across the service in January when 1,500 Airman implementers attend one of 22 Green Dot prep sessions worldwide.

  • Coalition airstrikes kill 10 senior ISIL leaders in December

    A high-value Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant leader killed by U.S.-led coalition airstrikes Dec. 24 was just one of 10 ISIL leaders targeted and killed so far this month, Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve spokesman Army Col. Steve Warren confirmed Dec. 29.

  • Former Academy QB under center as deployed orthopedic doc

    It’s 1999 and he steps onto the gridiron as a leader. It’s his team now. With big shoes to fill left by a record-setting signal caller, senior Cale Bonds is about to begin the final season of his college career as the starting quarterback of the U.S. Air Force Academy Falcons football team.

  • Top 10 most viewed AF stories of 2015

    The Air Force News Service has compiled a list of the top 10 stories on AF.mil for 2015. The stories were placed in order based on the number of views.

  • Air Force Medical Service’s Year in Review

    In 2015, the doctors, nurses and technicians of the Air Force Medical Service (AFMS) made a difference in the Air Force’s mission, while new AFMS technologies and training exercises ensured air and space superiority.

  • AF, Marine and Army EOD techs train, learn from each other

    Air Force, Marine and Army explosive ordnance disposal technicians deployed to Southwest Asia came together for the first time to train at an undisclosed location Dec. 14-18. The five-day training exercise included more than 40 staged improvised explosive device scenarios simulating common incidents

  • Luke F-35 team competes for first time in load crew competition

    A Luke Air Force Base F-35A Lightning II crew competed for the first time in a load crew competition Dec. 18, against legacy F-16 Fighting Falcon crews.Quarterly load crew competitions showcase the combat readiness and effectiveness of load crew teams to safely and properly arm an aircraft within

  • Welsh named 2015 Great American Patriot Award recipient

    Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark A. Welsh III has been named the 2015 Armed Forces Bowl’s Great American Patriot Award recipient. The award honors a candidate in recognition of their exemplary service to this nation.

  • Campaign behind the hat

    During a push to gain military training instructors, then Staff Sgt. Chi Yi found himself donning the under-the-brim stare that welcomed him to Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas, years before.The former vehicle operations specialist accepted the challenge of molding future Airmen, an ambition

  • AF introduces enlisted Global Hawk pilots

    Air Force officials announced a new initiative Dec. 17 to enhance the Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance mission by integrating enlisted remotely piloted aircraft pilots into the force.

  • Al Udeid firefighters, medics prepare for mass casualty incidents

    A car is driving down the road when suddenly the driver loses control and crashes. Eight people are seriously injured in the wreck and several suffer life-threatening injuries. The driver and passenger are still trapped inside.This was the scene as 379th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron

  • SMART program keeps medics ready for any contingency

    Military medical professionals have to always be ready for war and for whatever contingency the future brings. They need to either improve or remain current in medical skills necessary for any future battlefield, with its host of wounds and injuries, and for humanitarian assistance or disaster

  • McChord performs during Rainier War exercise

    In today's military, aircrews have to be trained and ready to handle any type of combat scenario, and recently, members of Joint Base Lewis-McChord and other bases participated in exercise Rainier War to help hone their skills.

  • Norwegian F-35 flies for first time under Norwegian command

    Maj. Morten Hanche, a Royal Norwegian Air Force F-35 Lightning II student pilot training with the 62nd Fighter Squadron, flew the first Norwegian F-35 sortie here Dec. 14. Hanche has been training at Luke Air Force Base under the instruction of American pilots for the past several months in order to

  • Airman Handbook desktop icon available Dec. 18

    Airmen will be able to access the Airman Handbook via a desktop icon slated to begin Dec. 18.The Airman Handbook is a compilation of policies, procedures and standards that guide Airmen’s actions within the profession of arms.

  • Misawa pilots save Iraqi civilians, earn 2014 Mackay Trophy

    Stranded on Mount Sinjar, Iraq, without food, water, medical care, facing starvation and dehydration, and under constant enemy gunfire, more than 40,000 Iraqi Yazidis were saved by a multinational coalition force led by Misawa Air Base F-16C Fighting Falcon pilots during an airstrike Aug. 9, 2014.

  • Pentagon exhibit showcases Reserve leaders

    The Office of the Air Force Reserve unveiled 13 portraits of Air Force Reserve leaders during the Profiles in Leadership display ceremony here Dec. 7. The display celebrates and honors citizen Airmen’s contributions in serving the nation.

  • 12 for 12

    On the 12th day of the 12th month, service members here took action to ensure 12 security forces defenders were honored with a 12-kilometer ruck march.

  • AF Materiel Command to transition to AcqDemo

    About 13,000 Air Force Materiel Command non-bargaining unit civilian employees will transition to the Acquisition Workforce Personnel Demonstration Project pay system in June 2016, according to AFMC officials.

  • AF leaders gather to talk professionalism

    Air Force leaders discussed the future of professionalism in the total force and how to forge better Airmen during a summit here Dec. 2-3. Nearly 80 leaders from all major commands joined stakeholders from Headquarters Air force, Air University, U.S. Air Force Academy, and the Air Force Guard and

  • ACC charts path for remote aircrews, units

    Air Combat Command officials announced the results of their study into the remotely piloted aircraft (RPA) community in an attempt to normalize operations and ensure long-term mission success.

  • Airman achieves lifelong dream of becoming pro bodybuilder

    The technical sergeant stood on the 2015 National Physique Committee National Bodybuilding Championships stage, Nov. 21, in Miami, Florida, in front of thousands of people. The blazing spotlights were on him as the announcer read off the winners -- the moment when his dream came true.

  • US, Australia, Japan launch Operation Christmas Drop

    With the holiday season now in full swing, C-130 Hercules aircrews and support personnel from Japan Air Self-Defense Force, Royal Australian Air Force and the 374th Airlift Wing at Yokota Air Base, Japan, began spreading cheer and joy while practicing critical humanitarian aid/disaster relief

  • AF selects 514 for squadron command

    More than 500 officers from various Air Force line and non-line career fields have been selected for logistics, support, materiel leader, air base, training, recruiting, test and medical squadron command.

  • Air mobility crisis staff responds to disasters, war

    Running the Air Force's global mobility enterprise day-to-day is a huge undertaking to begin with, so when a crisis strikes that requires a large mobility effort, the Air Mobility Command and 18th Air Force need a tool that lets them focus on that crisis. The crisis battle staff is a collection of

  • Explosive threats no match for Osan EOD

    Whether a faulty 9 mm pistol round or a pipe bomb meant to cause harm, there is one shop that holds the responsibility of disarming and disposing of these dangerous objects. With their extensive and rigorous training, the Airmen from the 51st Civil Engineer Squadron explosive ordnance disposal

  • Airman overcomes adversity to follow soccer dream

    What happens when a dream you’ve been working toward since you were 6 gets ripped from you? How do you cope, move on and rekindle that dream? First Lt. Charity Borg, a Headquarters Pacific Air Forces protocol officer, faced this dilemma a few years ago when she was in the middle of her freshman year

  • A widow’s story: Living by faith

    Just before sunset on Veterans Day, she sat next to her husband’s headstone at Arlington National Cemetery, reminding her three children how their father was with God in heaven and what it means to have faith. Faith has kept Heather Gray moving forward. It’s what has gotten her through the grief and

  • USAF Band surprises commuters at DC train station

    Members of the U.S. Air Force Band surprised commuters at Union Station with a World War II holiday flashback Dec. 3.The event was designed to be a special holiday musical presentation celebrating the service and sacrifices of the nation's WWII veterans.

  • SecAF implements additional security measures after attacks

    In response to the defense secretary’s call to improve the security and force protection of defense personnel after the tragic events in Chattanooga, Tennessee, Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James introduced more stringent security measures to reduce the possibility of violent acts directed toward

  • Moody deploys first HC-130Js

    The 71st Rescue Squadron deployed two HC-130J Combat King II aircraft for the first time Nov. 27. The HC-130Js, which deployed with more than 60 aircrew, support and maintenance personnel, bring a new set of capabilities to the airspace in support of Operation Inherent Resolve.