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  • Exclusive interview with Lt. Gen. Chris Weggeman

    Lt. Gen. Christopher Weggeman, the Deputy Commander of (ACC) speaks with Kessel Run in an exclusive interview about: Digital enlightenment, distributed command and control, and why he is a champion for Kessel Run.

  • Nellis AFB to become 5th Generation Center of Excellence

    The Department of the Air Force announced plans today to make space for a larger fighter presence at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, by realigning the base’s close air support and rescue missions to Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona, starting in fiscal year 2022.

  • 319th Reconnaissance Wing to field E-11 mission at Robins

    The Air Force announced plans recently that the 319th Reconnaissance Wing at Grand Forks Air Force Base, North Dakota, will now provide command and control support for the Air Force’s E-11 Battlefield Airborne Control Node aircraft mission. Under the proposed plan, which is contingent on

  • New COVID-19 Delta Variant: What you need to know to stay safe

    A new and increasingly dangerous variant of the SARS-CoV-2 virus is rapidly sweeping across the globe. The good news, however, is that the existing vaccines now available to everyone over the age of 12 have proven to be highly effective in preventing the Delta variant as well as other versions of

  • COMACC celebrates year with 20th MXG

    Gen. Mark Kelly, commander of Air Combat Command, and Chief Master Sgt. David Wade, Command Chief of Air Combat Command, joined 20th MXG Airmen for the 2021 Maintenance Professional of the Year banquet after a Shaw AFB immersion.

  • New USAFWC commander’s first visit to 505th CCW

    After assuming command of the U.S. Air Force Warfare Center, Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, not five days ago, Maj. Gen. Case Cunningham's first visit was to the U.S. Air Force's only wing dedicated to the core mission of command and control.

  • T-38A ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION REPORT RELEASED

    Air Combat Command completed an accident investigation board for a T-38A that impacted the runway without its landing gear fully extended following an attempted touch-and-go landing, February 18, 2021 at Sacramento Mather Airport in Mather, California.

  • Combat Shield enters Mountain Home AFB

    The 366th Fighter Wing hosted members from Eglin and Nellis Air Force Base during Combat Shield, June 21-25.Combat Shield is a training assessment that tests the effectiveness and functionality of a units’ aircraft electronic warfare systems. There are two teams in Combat Shield: a Maintenance team

  • Stay safe this 4th of July

    Celebrating our nation on the 4th of July should never end in tragedy. Sadly, the holiday can become deadly when alcohol and fireworks are thrown in the mix.

  • ACC Activates New Type of Wing, 350th Spectrum Warfare Wing

    Recognizing an operational need to dominate the electromagnetic spectrum, Air Combat Command activated the 350th Spectrum Warfare Wing June 25, which is temporarily located at Eglin Air Force Base while the Air Force conducts an environmental review for the permanent location.

  • USAF approves beddown of F-22 FTU at JBLE

    The Air Force has signed the Record of Decision approving Joint Base Langley-Eustis as the future home for the F-22 Formal Training Unit.The Air Force is awaiting the completion of the tactical air study before solidifying timelines for planned force structure moves.

  • Pilot enters fitness competition, boosts resiliency

    Air Force PT tests have been suspended for over a year, and for Airmen like Lt. Col. Aaron Jones, finding motivation during the new normal became its own test. Jones entered into the Organization of Competition Bodies No Gear pro-am in Greensboro, North Carolina, under the Men’s Physique category.

  • Air Force releases updated fitness test score breakdown

    Without the waist measurement as a scored component, push-ups and sit-ups will increase from 10 to 20 points each, while the 1.5-mile run will remain at 60 points. Scoring will fall into five-year age groups, as opposed to the previous 10.

  • PTSD, What You Should Know

    According to the National Center for PTSD-Department of Veterans Affairs, PTSD is a mental health issue that one may develop after witnessing or experiencing a life-threatening event such as a natural disaster, combat, sexual assault, or car accident. They also specify that anyone can develop PTSD

  • ACC A2 Airman emitting ‘accelerate change’

    The foundational purpose of a threat emitter is to replicate a surface-to-air missile system, designed to track, shoot and guide a missile to the target aircraft. While on the pilot’s side, their aircraft are equipped with sensors to detect SAM systems and alert the pilot to the threat type,

  • Improving run times for the PT test

    The Air Force will resume physical fitness testing on July 1, 2021. The 1.5-mile run component is weighted as the highest scored portion of the assessment, accounting for 60 component points of the 100 point composite score. The following physical training guidelines can help Airmen reduce their

  • Hanscom team supports ‘revolutionary’ zero trust effort

    Personnel from the AFNet Sustainment and Operations Branch here are partnering with the Air Combat Command Directorate of Cyberspace and Information Dominance to develop a modern software-based perimeter that will deliver zero trust capabilities to applications across the Air Force.

  • Resilient and fit despite COVID-19

    On July 1, 2021, the Air Force will resume its physical fitness testing, following months of delay caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. During the pandemic, Airmen of all ranks, ranging from new arrivals to those in the senior tier, have had to find different ways to maintain a healthy level of fitness

  • Nellis is empowering warfighters via DevSecOps

    The Department of the Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office is using multiple technologies to build its Advanced Battle Management System to create decision superiority by delivering information and capabilities to decision makers at all echelons.

  • Team 432 Airman saves fellow Ironman

    During his first Ironman triathlon, Senior Airman Levi began a cycling journey that led him to a fellow competitor fighting for their life.

  • Preventable men’s health problems

    June is Men’s Health month which promotes a variety of activities males can do to have healthier, more active lifestyles. It’s no secret men often ignore medical issues and put off going to the doctor. However, to help live a long and healthy life, getting regular check-ups can make a difference.

  • SJAFB hosts Pilot for a Day

    Airmen assigned to the 336th Fighter Squadron at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, North Carolina, hosted Jackson and his family as part of the Pilot for a Day program on June 17, 2021.

  • AUAB tests, proves new ACE refueling concept

    Recently, members of the 379th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron, in collaboration with U.S. Air Forces Central, demonstrated the ability to convert commercial grade aircraft fuel into fuel ready-to-use for military aircraft at King Abdulaziz International Airport, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

  • Mountain Home AFB hosts Gunfighter Flag 21-1

    Gunfighter Flag is a bi-annual exercise hosted by the 366th Fighter Wing at Mountain Home Air Force Base. Participants are tested in challenging scenarios that improve their skills, combat effectiveness as well as aircrew survivability alongside DoD partners and units across the nation.

  • USAF Officer’s Passion Rooted Life-Long Values

    As a cheerleader, game nights were where the gridiron battles erupted for 1st Lt. Haley McClain Hill, 9th Maintenance Squadron (MXS) section commander, and has provided many values she still carries with her today as a United States Air Force (USAF) officer. Three years after leaving Atlanta for

  • The conversion: New E-3 crew concept improves efficiency

    In March 2012, the 552nd Air Control Wing began testing much-needed upgrades to the E-3 Airborne Warning and Control System aircraft. The upgrade emboldened wing leadership to tackle three core issues: manning, maintenance problems of an aging fleet and the high deployment rhythm.

  • Hill Airmen return home after multinational exercises in Europe

    Aircraft and Airmen from the 4th Fighter Squadron returned to Utah this week after deploying the F-35A Lightning II to Europe a little more than a month ago. The squadron, compromised of active duty Airmen from the 388th Fighter Wing and Reservists from the 419th FW here, participated in Atlantic

  • Task Force Crimson reaches its ‘End of Watch’

    Dec. 21, 2015, will always be remembered in the storied history of the Office of Special Investigations, as the date six OSI and Security Forces Airmen made the ultimate sacrifice on behalf of the Nation. For nearly 20 years, everyone assigned to Task Force Crimson worked to safeguard Bagram Air

  • Mental health: Pushing past the stigma

    The wellness of service members is a priority across the Department of the Air Force, yet mental health has remained one of the most challenging components. Each service has struggled with an increasing number of suicides since the mid-2000’s. In 2018, there were 103 suicides among Air Force

  • Medical Group promotes preventative care with physical therapy

    Did you know that physical therapy is not just for restoring mobility or physical function following a major accident or catastrophic injury? Physical therapy is also a great tool to promote movement, reduce pain, and restore function by evaluating and treating musculoskeletal injuries early.

  • F-35 Demo Team meets F135 Engine Team

    Members of the F-35A Lightning II Demonstration Team visited Tinker Air Force Base to meet and thank the men and women of the Oklahoma City Air Logistics Complex Heavy Maintenance Center for their work on the F135 engine that powers their aircraft.

  • Air Force’s last serving POW retires

    “I thought to myself ‘this is it - I’m a dead man.’” As Lt. Col. Rob Sweet, the last serving Air Force prisoner of war, approached retirement on June 6, he recalled the moment during Operation Desert Storm when his A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft was shot down by enemy forces southwest of Basra, Iraq.

  • 20th MDG executes Ready Eagle

    The 20th Medical Group conducted exercise Ready Eagle, May 27, 2021. The exercise challenged Shaw medics to treat simulated explosion victims across multiple sites.

  • 552 ACNS and 752 OSS team up for cyber-escort mission

    The 552nd Air Control Networks Squadron and 752nd Operations Support Squadron recently joined together to conduct a cyber-escort mission on the key cyber terrain of a Control and Reporting Center component at Tinker Air Force Base. A five-person Mission Defense Team crew integrated with a six-person

  • The 4th Fighter Group on D-Day

    Sunday 6 June 2021 marks 77 years since D-Day, a pivotal event in World War II. At 2300 hours on 5 June 1944, Colonel Don Blakeslee briefed the 4th Fighter Group pilots on the D-Day operations the next day. Blakeslee emphasized it was going to be a long, tough day with the Group flying three sorties

  • 357th FS executes Agile Dragon

    Airmen from the 355th Wing participated in exercise Agile Dragon at Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas, May 21 – 27, 2021. 100 Airmen from the Davis-Monthan Air Force Base deployed eight U.S. Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt IIs to execute agile combat employment principles in simulated real-world scenarios.

  • Not your average kit

    By definition, a kit is a set of articles, a set of parts, tools or supplies, which can be large or small and are packaged, mailed or transported by working sections. For a support section within the 55th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, a kit is something vital to ensuring mission accomplishment in a

  • Total Force Integration proved at PSAB

    Rooted in a sea of sand, the U.S. Air Forces Central (AFCENT) mission is, in-part, seamlessly accomplished by both active duty and the Air National Guard—proving the concept of Total Force Integration (TFI). TFI is nothing new. Once called “Future Total Force,” TFI became the standard about 15 years

  • A-10 ACE Immersion

    The 354th Fighter Squadron hosted an A-10 Thunderbolt II agile combat employment immersion at Volk Field Air National Guard Base, Wisconsin, May 20, 2021.

  • Airman’s Foundational Competencies: An Air Force Initiative

    In this episode of The Air Force Starts Here podcast, we explore the Airman’s Foundational Competencies. The Air Force has identified 24 Airman’s foundational competencies for all Airmen, as part of a systematic competency-based approach to develop the force. In to episode 51 of "The Air Force

  • Two off-duty 64th AEG Airmen aid motorcyclist after collision

    Two Airmen deployed with First Air Force (1AF) 64th Air Expeditionary Group (AEG) in support of federal COVID-19 response efforts aided a motorcyclist following a collision on May 22, 2021, in Pine Township, Ind. The Airmen were off-duty from the state-led, federally supported Roosevelt High School

  • 4th Fighter Squadron enhances interoperability during Atlantic Trident 21

    U.S. Air Force F-35A Lightning II fighter aircraft and Airmen from the 4th Fighter Squadron, compromised of active duty Airmen from the 388th Fighter Wing and reservists from the 419th FW, Hill Air Force Base, Utah, are participating in Atlantic Trident taking place at Mont-de-Marsan Air Base,

  • AFCEC initiative targets infrastructure readiness, disaster recovery

    First, it was Category 5 Hurricane Michael with sustained winds of 155 miles per hour and pure destruction as the eye passed directly over Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida, Oct. 10, 2018. A few months later and nearly 1,000 miles away, it was the icy waters of the Missouri and Platte rivers that

  • IROC prototype could revolutionize Air Force energy

    A revolutionary tool for energy managers, civil engineers and others, is being pioneered at the Air Force Civil Engineer Center’s Natural Disaster Recovery Division. The Installation Resilience Operations Center, or IROC, is being tested at Tyndall through a contract.

  • 38th RQS celebrates 20th anniversary

    The 38th Rescue Squadron hosted a celebration May 21, in honor of its 20th anniversary. Although the rescue mission has not changed, the ability to accomplish the mission has improved over the last 20 years.

  • Hill Airmen, F-35 tested during concurrent exercises at Tyndall AFB

    Airmen from Hill’s fighter wings recently deployed the F-35A Lightning II to Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla., for concurrent training exercises – one a large-scale, joint-force air war, called Checkered Flag, the other an air-to-air weapons evaluation, Combat Archer.

  • Summer water safety; tragedy can be avoided

    Summertime is heading our way, and with the warm weather, more adventures abound. Whether you are into boating, swimming, kayaking, or paddle boarding, there will be water hazards.

  • 2021 Hurricane Season Readiness

    Are you prepared for hurricane season? According to the National Hurricane Center, the Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 through November 30. In order to prepare, Air Force members and their families are encouraged to first determine which evacuation zone their home is located in. To find

  • Risk Management - the key to a safe and enjoyable summer

    The Department of the Air Force reminds Airmen and Guardians to apply sound risk management when enjoying outdoor and recreational activities with family and friends this summer. The summer focus period runs from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day.

  • Reducing the stigma, encouraging mental health care in the military

    In the military, the stigma of mental health is grounded in the cultural misperception that a service member must have "zero defects" to be mission-ready. While the Department of Defense strives to identify and eliminate barriers to care that service members face regarding mental health treatment,

  • AUAB’s 540-degree protection system

    As technology and warfare changes, so too does the focus for base defense. No longer can the military focus solely on the 360-degree defense of the base perimeter – defending the airspace is also necessary to fight in today’s contested environments. This is where the counter-small unmanned aerial

  • GRIT: A different way to bond

    The 386th Expeditionary Mission Support Group are investing in “collective success” by implementing a program designed to strengthen resiliency and encourage communication through deliberate and meaningful personal and professional development from commanders and supervisors. GRIT is a way to

  • 1AF completes BLUE FLAG 21-1 homeland defense exercise

    Members of Continental U.S. NORAD Region (CONR) – 1st Air Force (Air Forces Northern) completed a week-long BLUE FLAG exercise May 14 focused on refining processes to defend North America against cyber, cruise missile and other air, space and cyber domains threats.

  • For the Warfighter: Operational Test advances at NE21

    As Northern Edge 21 concludes, the 53rd Wing is returning home having achieved major test objectives for multiple weapons systems May 3-14, 2021. In addition to F-15EX deep end testing and B-52 long-range kill chain milestones for hypersonic weapons, the 53d Wing’s F-35s, MQ-9s, F-15Cs and F-15Es,

  • Risk vs reward

    As the weather improves, there’s no surprise that many of our Airmen who ride motorcycles have been out more. Therefore, it’s crucial to remember the importance of motorcycle safety while riding. In April 2021, two Airmen from Travis Air Force Base lost their lives because of a motorcycle accident.

  • Tackling Tornadoes Takes Teamwork

    Across military operations, weather influences the entire spectrum of planning to execution. From carrier groups routing around typhoons to installations evacuating aircraft in advance of a hurricane, weather drives human behavior daily. Within the 557th Weather Wing, forecasters are preparing now

  • Ruck march honors fallen police officers at the 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing

    U.S. President John F. Kennedy named the week in May where the 15th falls, National Police Week, where law enforcement officers who have fallen in the line of duty are honored for their sacrifice. U.S. Air Force Security Forces Airmen take that to heart as they are also members of law enforcement,

  • Team Phoenix inducts 42 new members

    “…I will faithfully uphold the Team Phoenix code of ethics, promote mutual respect, and help others in times of need. I promise to improve the culture around me and encourage my peers to do likewise. I take this obligation freely and I volunteer without reservation.” These words were repeated by 42

  • Innovation saves 37 work-hours using spreadsheet

    In a deployed environment, unit travel representatives (UTR) have to find an extra 40 hours to complete the duties required of them within a five-day span. U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Caleb Jones, 386th Expeditionary Force Support Squadron manpower analyst, created a macro, a recorded series of

  • Run Toward the Fire: My journey through mental illness

    Suicide has been a part of my Air Force journey. It took a conversation with someone I trust and respect greatly, who also happens to be a mental health professional, to realize that suicide came nearer to defining my own story than I’d been willing to admit. “I’m going to give you one piece of

  • 4 FW executes ACE at AGILE FLAG 21-2

    The 4th Fighter Wing recently demonstrated their ability to rapidly generate combat air power and sustain readiness from multiple austere locations in a degraded operational environment.Airmen from the 4th FW, exercising as the 4th Air Expeditionary Wing, employed mission generation, command and

  • Project Strike Rodeo: F-15E loaded with five JASSMs

    The 85th Test and Evaluation Squadron completed a munitions proof-of-concept called Project Strike Rodeo, May 11, 2021, that validated loading five AGM-158 Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missiles (JASSM) on an F-15E Strike Eagle. This lays the foundation for follow-on flight testing that would more

  • Hill's fighter wings deploy F-35 to France

    U.S. Air Force F-35A Lightning II fighter aircraft and Airmen from the 4th Fighter Squadron, compromised of active duty Airmen from the 388th Fighter Wing, and reservists from the 419th FW, Hill Air Force Base, Utah, arrived at Mont-de-Marsan Air Base, France, May 10, 2021.

  • COMACC visits Moody AFB

    Gen. Mark Kelly, commander of Air Combat Command, toured Moody Air Force Base, Georgia, May, 5-6, 2021.Kelly and Command Chief Master Sgt. David Wade, ACC, set out to expand their knowledge of the current and future operations of the 23d Wing and 93d Air Ground Operations Wing.

  • 822d BDS supports Agile Flag 21-2

    The 822d Base Defense Squadron provided security and opposing forces for the 4th Fighter Wing, North Carolina, during Agile Flag 21-2, May 3-5, 2021.Air Combat Command’s Agile Flag 21-2 tested the 4th FW’s ability to deploy as a lead air expeditionary wing from its main operating base at Tyndall Air

  • Legacy of service strengthened by community roots

    A community is only as strong as those who contribute to it. A village together can help one another raise the metaphorical child. Nowhere is this line of thinking more significant than in the communities that foster the nation’s men and women in arms and their families.

  • DoD tests CBRN Aircrew Protective Suit Upgrade at Nellis

    Representatives from across the Department of Defense (DoD) in conjunction with the 88th Test and Evaluation Squadron participated in ongoing developmental testing of the new Uniform Integrated Protective Ensemble (UIPE) Air system at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada.

  • 5th ASOS fires on all cylinders during Yakima FTX

    The 5th Air Support Operations Squadron, located at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington, conducted a week-long field training exercise here, April 26-30, 2021. The 5th ASOS is a combat support unit located at Fort Lewis, Washington. The squadron provides tactical command and control of airpower

  • 609th AOC optimizes ATO production, first to use KRADOS operationally

    U.S. Air Forces Central’s 609th Air Operations Center made history this week when it became the first AOC to operationally utilize the Kessel Run All Domain Operations Suite to plan and execute the Master Air Attack Plan. The KRADOS suite of applications, which was developed by the Air Force Life

  • Celebrating 80 years of elite simulated warfighter training

    From wooden rifles to virtual reality, Nellis Air Force Base has used simulation to train warfighters for decades. Today, Nellis Airmen can step inside the new Virtual Test and Training Center, which uses advanced computer-generated models to simulate in-flight combat. On the contrary, during World

  • B-52 Hypersonic Kill Chain Employment Success

    A B-52 Stratofortress from the 49th Test and Evaluation Squadron, Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana, conducted a successful simulated hypersonic kill chain employment from sensor to shooter and back during Northern Edge 21, May 5, 2021.

  • Agile Flag - A Base Appears

    What would happen if personnel needed to be rapidly deployed to a location where nothing was on the ground except a landing strip? That is one of the questions that Air Combat Command’s Agile Flag 21-2 experiment sought to answer

  • 34th Fighter Generation Squadron completes Agile Combat Employment exercise

    From April 27-30, Airmen from the 34th Fighter Squadron and 34th Fighter Generation Squadron completed an Agile Combat Employment (ACE) Exercise, designed to prepare Airmen to rapidly forward-deploy fighters and operate from a forward base. Pilots and maintainers from the 388th Fighter Wing at Hill

  • Thunderbirds announce new commander

    The commander of Air Combat Command, Gen. Mark D. Kelly, has officially selected the next Thunderbird commander to lead the United States Air Force Thunderbirds for the 2022 and 2023 demonstration seasons.