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NATO Air Policing operations — U.S. Air Force News

Aug. 27, 2022
AFSC bases continue advances to support pregnant, nursing Airmen

Efforts to expand support of working mothers across Air Force Sustainment Center bases continue, including access to lactation rooms and pods, reclassification of wireless breast pumps to allow entrance into secure areas and easy access to maternity uniforms.
May 12, 2022
First female aviator receives Kolligian Trophy

In April 2020, during a routine training sortie, Bye’s A-10’s gun experienced a catastrophic failure, her canopy was sent soaring through the sky during flight and forced her to decide to either eject or attempt a gear-up “belly” landing.
March 31, 2022
First African American female Grey Beret

Oftentimes people are not aware they are making history while they’re in the midst of it, and that couldn’t be truer for Staff Sgt. Shanelle Newman who unknowingly became the first African American female Grey Beret.
March 7, 2022
Empowering future female leaders: Nevada Guard Women’s Leadership Forum returns

The Women’s Leadership Forum was dedicated to Women’s History Month and the goal of the forum was to empower and educate leaders, especially women, and work towards building an inclusive workplace culture.
Dec. 7, 2021
Sword Athena drives change in maternity uniform accessibility

Sword Athena is designed to identify, tackle and present solutions to female and family-centric barriers to readiness using crowd-sourced topics and a Mission Area Working Group model. In response to an outbrief with Air Combat Command commander, Gen. Mark D. Kelly, Sword Athena partnered with Army
July 14, 2021
Female body armor secures Hanscom AFB defenders

The recently-developed armor is a lighter weight than previous editions and features a curved chest plate and shorter torso size. An adjustable corset tightens to fit the wearer, distinguishing it from a one-size-fits-all piece of equipment.
March 24, 2021
Female aviators key element to the CAA mission

Female aviators play an important role in the 711th Special Operations Squadron’s combat aviation advisor mission at home and around the globe. Combat aviation advisors advise, assist and instruct service members from partner nations on how to best perform this specialized mission.
March 17, 2021
919 SOW’s first female Airman reflects on career

Avant joined the 919th TAG in 1972 when the Air Force looked very different for women. Less than 3% of the Air Force was female and the Women in the Air Force program separated women from men in their training, uniforms and career opportunities.
Feb. 19, 2021
Around the Air Force: Tour Lengths, Female Body Armor, & Directed Energy Weapons

Today’s look Around the Air Force highlights a change in the length of some overseas assignments, the introduction of new female body armor, and the final testing phase of a new anti-drone weapon. (Hosted by Staff Sgt. Brittain Crolley)
Feb. 17, 2021
Kirtland AFB female defenders get new female body armor

After years of wearing the standard tactical vest originally designed for a male body frame, female Airmen from the 377th Security Forces Group at Kirtland Air Force Base were among the first Air Force defenders to receive the new issue of female body armor starting January 2021.
Nov. 6, 2020
Around the Air Force: Agile Flag 21-1, re-designed G-Suits, and Testing the Minuteman III

Today’s look Around the Air Force highlights Air Combat Command’s “Agile Flag” exercise, incorporating the “Lead Wing” concept for agile combat employment, a test run of modified Advanced Technology Anti-Gravity Suit “G-suits” for female pilots, and an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) test
Nov. 3, 2020
Female fighter pilots test modified ATAGS “G-suit”

Five female fighter pilots tested a modified version of the Advanced Technology Anti-Gravity Suit Oct. 26-30.
Aug. 14, 2020
Around the Air Force: Jolly Green II Milestone, New HBCU Scholarships, New Acquisition Guidance

Today’s look Around the Air Force features Jolly Green II aircraft refueling capabilities, new scholarships afforded to students attending historically black colleges and universities and how the Air Force moves towards gear inclusivity. (Hosted by Staff Sgt. Sara Voigt)
July 29, 2020
Air Force removes administrative burden, allows pregnant, postpartum women to attend PME

Pregnant and postpartum members may now attend professional military education without an exception to policy, and are also exempt from the requirement to have a passing fitness assessment prior to attending.
April 27, 2020
Nigerien Air Force’s first female pilot trains at Little Rock AFB

According to Capt. Ouma Laouali, the Nigerien air force’s first female pilot, her interest in aviation began as a child while chasing planes overhead, imagining what it would be like to be in the sky.
March 4, 2020
Air University students break down barriers for female Airmen

An enthusiastic group of fellow Squadron Officer School students at Air University are dedicated to redesigning the uniform and researching other initiatives aimed at making women less inclined to leave the service earlier than planned.
Jan. 10, 2020
Air Force commissions first female Muslim chaplain

Chaplain candidate Saleha Jabeen was commissioned as a second lieutenant in Chicago at the Catholic Theological Union by the Air Force chief of chaplains, Dec. 18, becoming the first female Muslim chaplain in the Department of the Defense.
May 2, 2019
Air Force sports seeks male, female softball players

The Air Force is looking for men and women for 2019 Air Force Softball Trial Camps. The men’s camp is at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, and the women’s is at Hurlburt Field, Florida. Both camps are July 25 – Aug. 11.
April 1, 2019
New direction for female-specific flight equipment

The Air Force is working to redesign the gear used by female pilots across the force after facing challenges with current flight equipment.
Feb. 10, 2015
Female U-2 pilot blazes trail through society and space

As a child she imagined flying amongst the stars, thousands of miles above the earth’s surface, and today Lt. Col. Merryl Tengesdal is one of eight female pilots to ever fly the U-2 and the only black female pilot during the aircraft's history.

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