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  • Jet 87-173: Innovation keeps Air Force legend in the fight

    Many jets become legends for their heroic feats in battle, but they are unable to tell their stories as they experienced them. Fortunately, legends never tell their own stories. This is the story of F-15E Strike Eagle, tail number 87-173, where it comes from and how innovation keeps it ready to

  • End of an Era: JSTARS flies last sortie out of CENTCOM

    An 18-year long deployment of the E-8C Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System aircraft to the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, and the second longest deployment in U.S. Air Force history, came to an end Oct. 1, 2019.Just before sunrise, Col. Konata Crumbly, 116th Air Control Wing

  • Connectedness the key to defeating the enemy

    For the Tyndall AFB team, identifying the enemy has taken on a heightened sense of urgency since Hurricane Michael’s landfall on Oct. 10, 2018. The storm not only leveled the base, it wreaked havoc on the lives of Airmen, civilian employees and family members displaced and impacted. Since then, the

  • 705th Combat Training Squadron Executes Coalition VIRTUAL FLAG 19-4

    The 705th Combat Training Squadron, home to the Distributed Mission Operations Center, has a mission to develop, integrate and deliver capabilities and training to prepare warfighters for combat in Joint and Coalition environments. From 9-20 Sept., the 705th CTS hosted Exercise Coalition VIRTUAL

  • 29th WPS: Forging C-130 Tactical Experts

    The 29th Weapons Squadron recently tackled phase three of the C-130 Weapons Instructor Course in Colorado, from October 12 to October 27, 2019. The 29th WPS at Little Rock Air Force Base, Arkansas, a detachment from the U.S. Air Force Weapons School at Nellis AFB, Nevada, is home to the course.The

  • SJ emphasizes CSAR in Razor Talon

    The 4th Fighter Wing hosted a joint service exercise known as Razor Talon, Oct. 11, 2019. The monthly exercise acts as a pivotal training mechanism for new aircrew members to practice interoperability from their home station. It also provides integral mission commander upgrade training, as well as a

  • Separated, not detached: 20th ATKS Airmen critical to Hunter mission

    The 432nd Wing/432nd Air Expeditionary Wing is based out of Creech Air Force Base, Nevada, however, its Airmen and their contributions to the MQ-9 Reaper mission are not bound to one installation. There are some operational squadrons that organizationally fall under the 432nd WG but aren’t

  • Maintainers, Defenders team up for advanced readiness training

    Over the past year, the 461st Air Control Wing at Robins Air Force Base, Georgia, has been teaming with the Guardian Centers at their campus in Perry, Georgia, to conduct advanced readiness training for its Airmen. On Sept. 13, 2019, 25 Airmen from three different Robins squadrons teamed up and took

  • CEMIRT increases productivity despite hurricane direct hit

    The Civil Engineer Maintenance Inspection and Repair Team supports installations across the Air Force with a suite of civil engineering-associated maintenance and repair capabilities, including electrical systems and mechanical systems; power production; aircraft arresting systems, heating,

  • 380 AEW first responders exercise readiness, interoperability

    Emergency personnel from the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing executed a large, first responder exercise Sept. 24, 2019, at Al Dhafra Air Base, United Arab Emirates. The focus of any exercise is to safely respond to the emergency and mitigate impact to the wing and personnel. While there will always be

  • Coalition partners participate in UAE's large force exercise

    The coalition of U.S., French and Emirati Air Force’s collaborated in a two-day large force exercise beginning on Aug. 27 in United Arab Emirates.The UAE Air Warfare Center kicked off the exercise by forming two opposing teams, Red and Blue, who began planning the mission which would be followed

  • Offutt restores training capabilities with new simulator

    The 55th Operations Group is constructing a new aircrew training device as part of an effort to replace the three ATDs destroyed in the Offutt Air Force Base March flood. This new simulator is needed to aid Team Offutt initial, requalification and continuation air crew training in an organized

  • Chilean, US Air Forces share helicopter expertise

    The 55th Rescue Squadron hosted an H-60 Subject Matter Expert Exchange between members of the U.S. Air Force and the Chilean Air Force Aug 5-9, 2019. This is the second H-60 SMEE between the two Air Forces this year.

  • FTX trains Airmen for deployed environment

    While at Quantico, the 633rd SFS members, known as defenders, sharpened their skills while conducting day and night reconnaissance operations, establishing a forward operating base, and clearing villages to acquire a specific target.

  • Record-setting first sortie for wing's newest F-35A

    The 388th Fighter Wing set a speed record for bringing online a newly-delivered aircraft last week, flying a local sortie less than five hours after accepting delivery of its 68th F-35A Lightning II. F-35A program’s production and delivery plan was designed to allow rapid aircraft induction and

  • Agile, Mobile: MHAFB adaptive base training

    MHAFB conducted an adaptive basing exercise July 17th, 2019, in order to Spark innovation by finding new and versatile methods for air operations.The Gunfighter team practiced adaptive basing strategies by constructing a training exercise and utilizing a simulated air strip to optimize their

  • Sharks 'ATTACK' surge exercise

    Pilots and maintainers were put to the test during a sortie surge exercise, July 22-26, here.The 75th Aircraft Maintenance Unit (AMU) and 75th Fighter Squadron (FS) conducted Shark Flag to test their Airmen’s abilities to perform effectively in a high operations simulated-deployed environment.

  • Enlisted Graduates of Weapons School

    Once reserved for only officers, opportunities now exist for enlisted Airmen within six career fields to compete for these courses, said Tech. Sgt. Megan, 25th Operations Support Squadron operations flight chief and sensor operator instructor. The Weapons School, using the motto “humble,

  • Rain or shine, weather flight protects flightline

    The 20th Operations Support Squadron weather flight Airmen’s discipline, attention to detail and continued emphasis on the hard-earned basics are what stand between unseen deadly flying conditions and the pilots of Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina.

  • Giving F-22 Raptor its senses

    The F-22 Raptor is one of the U.S. Air Force’s fifth generation fighter aircraft, performing both air-to-air and air-to-ground missions allowing full realization of operational concepts vital to the 21st century fight.With the combination of sensor capability, integrated avionics, and advanced

  • Rapid Forge begins at Spangdahlem Air Base

    U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle's, assigned to the 4th Fighter Wing, Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, North Carolina, and U.S. Air Force F-35A Lightning II, assigned to the 421st Fighter Squadron, Hill Air Force Base, Utah take off from Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, July 16, 2019, during

  • 563d RQG Airmen rescue injured Mexican sailors

    Airmen from Davis-Monthan Air Force Base’s 563d Rescue Group traveled more than 1700 miles, to save two critically injured Mexican fishermen onboard the Mazatun fishing vessel, July 10, 2019.The fishermen were injured when their vessel’s crane collapsed more than 1300 miles southwest of San Diego in

  • Convoys: Going where no one else can

    Airmen from the 726th Air Control Squadron offer an inside look on what makes a successful convoy while supporting Hardrock Exercise 19-2 July 14, 2019, at Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho. To do this, a convoy has to be meticulously planned and perfectly executed.

  • F-35A to participate in 'Gunfighter Flag' exercise

    The 34th Fighter Squadron, from Hill Air Force Base’s 388th Fighter Wing, will fly the F-35A Lightning II alongside other Air Force units in Gunfighter Flag here next week.The exercise, similar to larger combat exercises like Red Flag at Nellis AFB, Nevada, will bring together various Air Force

  • Largest off-station F-35A operation to date

    Since May 30, the 388th Fighter Wing’s 34th Fighter Squadron has been flying out of Mountain Home in what has been the largest off-station F-35A Lightning II operation to date.The squadron, normally stationed at Hill AFB, Utah, is functioning as a detachment with about 300 Airmen in operations,

  • Gunfighters use 1950s tech on F-35 for a huge win

    ‘Things aren’t made the way they used to be’ is a sentiment often tossed around when a new car or appliance breaks down. Even with all the new inventions and integrated technology there’s something to be said about the simplicity of an original design. Gunfighters at Mountain Home Air Force Base,

  • Hill’s fighter wings demonstrate global reach with F-35A

    In a seven-day span, Airmen from Hill Air Force Base’s active duty 388th and Reserve 419th Fighter Wings have been on the ground in nine different countries on three different continents and met every tasking asked of them by the Air Force.

  • AWACS Control System Combined Test Force leads 2019 Astral Knight exercise

    Tinker’s E-3 Airborne Warning and Control System Combined Test Force will play a major role in an overseas exercise that promotes readiness for any possible threat.The Astral Knight joint exercise, which started earlier this month, will involve Airmen, Soldiers and Sailors from the United States, as

  • Hill F-35As arrive at Spangdahlem

    The U.S. Air Force has deployed one squadron of F-35A Lightning II fighter aircraft, Airmen, and associated equipment to Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, from the 388th and 419th Fighter Wings, at Hill AFB, Utah, to participate in exercises and conduct training with other Europe-based aircraft as part

  • Female aviators help bring in new age of flight equipment

    Female flight equipment is on its way through a major overhaul. The biggest change coming to the equipment, it is being designed with measurements from female aviators.Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia, held a Female Fitment Event June 4, 2019, where U.S. Air Force and U.S. Navy female aviators

  • Load 'em up: F-35A from A to B? Ask Fanter

    How do you pack an F-35A into a C-17? Or move nearly 300 Airmen, and all the equipment, to support 12 aircraft around Europe for two months? Or make sure you have enough of everything that you’ll need, and almost nothing that you don’t?For nearly 5 years at Hill Air Force Base, Utah, the answer has

  • US, UAE fly to build interoperability

    United Arab Emirates Air Force Mirage 2000, a UAE F-16 Desert Falcon and a U.S. F-35A Lightning II fly a partnering flight in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, May 29, 2019. The flight was conducted to continue building military-to-military relationships and interoperability with the

  • Hill Airmen deploy F-35 to Europe as part of Theater Security Package

    The U.S. Air Force has deployed one squadron of F-35A Lightning II fighter jets, Airmen, and associated equipment to Aviano Air Base, Italy, from the 388th and 419th Fighter Wings, at Hill AFB, Utah, to participate in exercises and conduct training with other Europe-based aircraft as part of a

  • Operation Restore Paradise enhances readiness through adaptive basing

    Airmen deploy all the time, leaving their work centers behind. But what if the Airman stayed and their work centers deployed?The Air Force has two deployable Precision Measurement Equipment Laboratories (PMEL) called a Rapid Assistance Support for Calibration (RASCAL) unit. And Mountain Home Air

  • Motorcycle Safety Training: What AF riders need to know

    Training season for motorcyclists is just around the corner, and as training gets into full swing, it may be helpful to shed some light on the Air Force’s training requirements, as well as what the proper acronyms are for the Motorcycle Safety Foundation courses. I’d also like to dispel some