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  • Deployed to Lead: Beale Airmen Power Expeditionary Operations

    Airmen from the 9th Reconnaissance Wing prepared for departure to become deployed Airmen under U.S. Central Command’s Combined Air Component – Ninth Air Force (Air Forces Central). Beale’s deployers were joined by family, friends and fellow Airmen to see them off. It was an emotional gathering, but

  • Wheatland Union High School football team touches down on Beale AFB

    Diverse experiences with the Air Force influenced Joshua Crawley as a teacher and a coach and, helped him communicate with different groups of students. When asked if there was much similarity between the training, he received in the Air Force and the skills he teaches on the football field, he

  • Beale Innovation Team Members Spark Course Impacting Force of the Future

    Over the past 6 months, the Beale Innovation Team attended multiple temporary duties (TDY) tackling innovation combat employment under the name Combat Innovation Task Force with the premise that if Airmen were in a contested environment on an island, would they be able to pivot and survive utilizing

  • AFCOMAC members receive training, education from 649th MUNS experts

    Workers from the Air Force Combat Ammunition Center and 9th Munitions Squadron at Beale Air Force Base, California, journeyed to Hill for critical training and education from 649th Munitions Squadron experts on the unit's Standard Air Munitions Package capability.

  • Define, Analyze, and Test - Training to Build Better Working Environments

    Communication is a fundamental part of professional and personal aspects of life. Learning how to relay information effectively can sometimes be a challenge. Beale introduced the Warfighter-Centered Design (WCD)/Military Scrum Master (MSM) dual course in the latest effort to teach open-minded,

  • TU-2S Dragon Lady 1078’s Resurrection: Rebirth of the “Silver Dragon”

    TU-2S Dragon Lady 1078’s silver frame stood out in the sunny blue sky, Feb. 15, as it conducted its first flight in 1,030 days. After almost three years of extensive maintenance in a collaborative effort between the 9th Maintenance Group and Lockheed Martin, aircraft 1078 spread her wings again.

  • Navy SEALs Train With Beale Defenders During Exercise Dragon Trident

    Forty Airmen from the 9th Security Forces Squadron (SFS), 9th Medical Group (MDG) and 9th Operations Support Squadron (OSS) from Beale Air Force Base, California, teamed up with East Coast-based Naval Special Warfare Operators (SEALs) for joint Exercise Dragon Trident 1, Jan. 29-31, 2024. This 3-day

  • AF Year in Photos

    This year's photos feature Airmen from around the globe involved in activities supporting expeditionary operations and defending America. This annual feature showcases the men and women of the Air Force.

  • 'If I can do it, you can do it'

    Every week, thousands of family members and friends show up to watch their loved ones graduate U.S. Air Force Basic Military Training. In July 2015, a proud father, along with his wife and youngest son, went to Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas, to watch his eldest son graduate from BMT. But

  • The 9th Reconnaissance Wing conducts Full-Scale Readiness Exercise

    The 9th Reconnaissance Wing kicks off Exercise DRAGON FANG, an Air Force Force Generation (AFFORGEN) centered exercise June 12-16 here. The Full-Scale Readiness Exercise will test the wing’s ability to rapidly deploy and perform mission essential tasks while in a mock deployed setting. The 9th RWs

  • FY22 DAF Annual Safety Awards Released

    Department of the Air Force Chief of Safety Maj. Gen. Jeannie M. Leavitt has released the recipients for the fiscal year 2022 Secretary of the Air Force and Chief of Staff Safety Awards, as well as the Department of the Air Force Chief of Safety Awards. Winners named include Air Combat Command's

  • ACE exercise advances 9th Reconnaissance Wing, 55th Wing operations

    The 9th Reconnaissance Wing alongside the 55th Wing completed Dragon Flag EAST after two-week joint operations April 7 at Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska. The 9th RW from Beale AFB, California, and the 55th Wing from Offutt AFB designed and executed Dragon Flag EAST to simulate Agile Combat

  • Boom operator returns to the controls 50 years after retirement

    It can take many years to master a skill, but that’s not the case for muscle memory. Muscle memory is influenced by everyday activities such as typing, driving, or even brushing your teeth. The day-to-day repetition is eventually performed with little to no effort. Retired Master Sgt. Eugene T. Beal

  • 9th Reconnaissance Wing and 55th Wing Conduct Dragon Flag EAST Exercise

    Approximately 60 Airmen and 1 U-2S Dragon Lady from the 9th Reconnaissance Wing at Beale Air Force Base, Calif., repositioned to Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska, to further develop the wing’s readiness capabilities via Dragon Flag EAST, Mar. 25. In accordance with the National Defense Strategy, this

  • The ISR Mission

    Semper Paratus, Latin for “always ready,” makes up the 9th Reconnaissance Wing’s mantra. The 9th RW at Beale AFB is one of twelve units in the Sixteenth Air Force that falls under Air Combat Command. The mission here is to deliver persistent, integrated reconnaissance to the nation, largely in part

  • Honorary Commander Program

    The long awaited honorary commander program is back in full swing after a 3-year postponement. The honorary commander program creates an opportunity for Beale Air Force Base to build lasting relationships with the local community and educate community leaders about the missions of Beale AFB and the

  • IST Program

    Do you have what it takes to fly 70,000 feet? The U-2 Dragon Lady pilot program is a competitive program that takes pilots from different aircraft platforms and even different service branches into consideration. Members from different service branches can qualify through the Interservice Transfer

  • Red Flag night launch with civic leaders

    Nellis Air Force Base senior leaders welcomed both civic leaders and honorary commanders to the base on Jan. 31, 2023, to observe the launch of U.S., joint and allied aircraft from the flight line during Red Flag-Nellis 23-1.

  • Wildland Firefighters Create Fires to Prevent Fires

    The dry fields across Beale Air Force Base can see months without a drop of rain during fire season. A single spark, one mistake, capable of setting huge swaths of land ablaze. Fires of such magnitude can reach buildings and residences, disrupting our mission and potentially leaving many without

  • New medical profile system to enhance communication, readiness

    A new medical profile system aimed at improving communication and overall readiness has been developed by the Air Force Research Laboratory in collaboration with the Air Force Medical Readiness Agency and the Defense Health Agency and is scheduled to roll out to military treatment facilities later

  • Beale AFB says farewell to the RQ-4 Global Hawk Block 30

    Since October 2004, the RQ-4 Global Hawk nested and flocked the airspace at Beale. However, the final RQ-4 Global Hawk assigned to the 12th Reconnaissance Squadron departed recently. The RQ-4 mission would not have been successful without the support from the men and women of the 69 Reconnaissance

  • Air Force units support Navy Valiant Shield exercise

    U.S. Air Force Airmen from the 505th Command and Control Wing at Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico, and Beale AFB, California, supported the U.S. Navy’s ninth iteration of exercise Valiant Shield 22 last month.

  • Without POL, Pilots can’t breathe

    When pilots need oxygen for high-altitude flights, Petroleum, Oil and Lubricants Airmen (POL) come with the tools they need. The 9th Logistics Readiness Squadron (LRS) fuels cryogenics technicians know how to make sure they provide an essential necessity to keep the mission going.

  • End of an Era: U-2 flew it's last OBC

    The Air Force’s high-altitude, all-weather reconnaissance aircraft, the U-2 Dragon Lady, flew Beale Air Force Base’s last Optical Bar Camera on June 24. The OBC mission, which captures daylight acquisition of high-altitude photographs, will transition to forward operating locations supported by the

  • U-2 pilot assists civilian aircraft in distress call

    A U-2 Dragon Lady pilot assisted a civilian pilot in distress, Feb. 8, 2022, near Lake Berryessa. At approximately 9 a.m., a civilian aircraft suffered engine failure over Lake Berryessa. The civilian pilot received radio assistance from Maj. Heatherman, 99th Reconnaissance Squadron (RS) U-2 pilot.

  • United we stand

    A total of 2,996 individuals were lost on Tuesday, September 11, 2001. Twenty years ago, the day started off as any other. In New York City, the sky was blue and cloudless, the temperature in the mid-sixties and the city bustling with its normal morning commute. Ferries, taxis, subways and air

  • Reconnaissance Dominance for 108 years and counting

    National Aviation Day acknowledges the history of American aviation.  It's a day to recognize how far the United States has come in the last century. One way to highlight these accomplishments is recognizing the technological breakthroughs of the U.S. Air Force.

  • 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

  • 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.

  • Tenant feedback drives housing programs improvement

    Department of the Air Force housing program officials are analyzing data from the recently completed 2020 Department of Defense Annual Tenant Satisfaction Survey for trends and ways to improve the enterprise’s privatized and government-owned housing portfolio and tenant experience.

  • U-2 Federal Lab Achieves Flight with Kubernetes

    The U-2 Federal Laboratory successfully leveraged Kubernetes during a local training sortie on a U-2 Dragon Lady assigned to the 9th Reconnaissance Wing at Beale Air Force Base, California, on September 22. This represents the first time Kubernetes has flown on an operational major weapon system in

  • A-Staff Inauguration

    On Aug. 28, 2020 the 9th RW begins the Initial Operating Capability (IOC) phase of reorganization. This historic moment will give A-Staff directors a chance to operate in their new roles, while groups officially stand down.

  • Wildfire training turns to trial

    Northern California is an area prone to wildfires, which poses a hazard to both Recce Town’s members and assets. To combat this threat, the 9th Civil Engineer Squadron’s (CES) Fire Department organized training with wildland fire experts May 29, 2020.  During the training, the firefighters were put

  • Mental Health Awareness Month

    Mental Health has been a struggle for my family since before I was even born. When I was a kid my father grappled with undiagnosed Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), which affected everyone in my family, and eventually my own mental health. It used to be a running joke that, “Taylor has PTSD

  • Doctor's Orders

    Other than washing your hands, maintaining 6 feet of physical distance, and wearing a face covering, the most important thing that everyone can do to help stop the spread of COVID-19 is to stay informed as new information becomes available. It is vital that Airmen understand some key differences in

  • Beale Airman Helps Feed the Children

    To keep children safe from the pandemic, schools across the U.S. have shut down. This has caused a problem for families who rely on school lunches to keep their children fed. To combat this issue many school districts are preparing lunches for students.

  • 9th MXS AGE Flight, Essential to Providing Superior Reconnaissance

    Delivering superior reconnaissance capability in support of national objectives is one of the 9th Reconnaissance Wing’s main priorities. To accomplish this mission Beale is equipped with reconnaissance aircraft; the U-2 Dragon Lady, the RQ-4 Global Hawk, and aircraft that keep U-2 pilots proficient,

  • Beale Airman earns Bronze Star

    Master Sgt. John Brahm, 69th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron Det. 1 section chief, network operations, was presented a Bronze Star Medal June 19, 2019 for his meritorious achievement while deployed to Forward Operating Base O-Cobb, Kabul, Afghanistan.

  • 9th MUNS hosts second annual Air Force Combat Operations Competition

    The 9th Munitions Squadron held the second annual Air Force Combat Operations Competition (AFCOCOMP), May 14-16, 2019, here.AFCOCOMP is a one-of-a-kind munitions building competition, which tests participants on the skills required of ammo troops during warfighting operations.

  • 9th MXG maintain rare U-2 Black Letter Jet at Beale

    A team of Airmen from the 9th Maintenance Group certified a U-2 Dragon Lady as a rare black-letter jet for flight March 17, 2019 Beale. The name “black-letter” originates when the dedicated crew chief initials the first letter of their last name in the “status today” block on a maintenance

  • 548th ISRG Looks ‘Outside the Box’ to Develop Air Force Leaders

    Air Force leaders at every level pursue answers to one burning question: How do we build tomorrow’s exceptional leaders?As Airmen progress through their careers, traditional professional military education (PME) programs provide a tiered approach to professional development and leadership growth.

  • Flying High: Enlisted Pilots’ integral role in 12th RS

    In 2017, the Enlisted Pilot Initial Class (EPIC) consisting of 12 enlisted Airmen became the first enlisted pilots since 1942 to fly operational sorties. These highly qualified pilots were assigned to the 12th Reconnaissance Squadron at Beale and the 348th RS at Grand Forks Air Force Base, North

  • Perimeter Patrols: 9th SFS provides base security on UTVs

    The 9th Security Forces Squadron conducts patrols of the base’s 26-mile perimeter on utility terrain vehicles (UTV) to help ensure the base is secure. They conduct at least three patrols every day. During the patrols they check for damage to the fence or any other signs of tampering. The off-road

  • Current Scout Honors Beale’s Past

    There will come a day when there aren’t any World War II Veterans still living among us. When all of these mighty Americans have left us, only memories, history, and memorial sites will remain.Approximately 16 million Americans served in the Armed Forces during World War II. Currently, 2.4 million

  • Airmen test limits at Ranger Assessment Course

    The Air Force Security Forces Center, one of AFIMSC’s subordinate units, hosted the Ranger Assessment Course 19-01. Twelve cadre instructors, all having been through the course and graduated Army Ranger School, as well as Army instructors, put the 29 students through the mind-numbing days and

  • Squadron Innovation Fund: 9th CONS executes, meets unit demands

    The Air Force announced a new program known as the Squadron Innovation Fund (SIF) designed to fund new ideas. The program was inspired by the success of the 99th Reconnaissance Squadron’s initiative to overcome challenges they experienced while performing their mission independent of leadership

  • RQ-4B GLOBAL HAWK ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION RELEASED

    According to an Air Combat Command Accident Investigation Board (AIB) report released today, an RQ-4B Global Hawk that crashed June 21, 2017, near Lone Pine, California, broke up mid-air after experiencing issues with one of its navigational data devices/ navigators. This caused the RQ-4B to enter

  • Global Hawk makes historic first landing at RED FLAG Alaska

    An RQ-4 Global Hawk, assigned to Beale Air Force Base, California, landed at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska for RED FLAG-Alaska (RF-A) 18-3, Aug. 16, 2018.The 12th RS sent a team of pilots to RF-A to better incorporate the RQ-4’s reconnaissance gathering capabilities into the simulated warfighting

  • Total Force Integration: 9th LRS, 940th reservist fuels Beale

    The 9th Logistics Readiness Squadron petroleum, oil and lubricants (POL) flight works to ensure the mission at Beale maintains a steady rate.The 9th LRS POL runs 24-hour operations to ensure the 9th Reconnaissance Wing's inventory of U-2 Dragon Ladies, RQ-4 Global Hawks and T-38 Talons receive fuel

  • 9th SFS, 940th SFS epitomize total force to ensure readiness

    The 9th Security Forces Squadron Combat Arms Training and Maintenance shop works closely with its counterparts to ensure reserve instructors are ready to accomplish the fight and maximize mission effectiveness.Whether its active duty or the Reserve, providing an opportunity for combat arms training

  • Comms Check: 9th CS ensures radio communication

    For Recce Town, USA, radio communication plays a critical role in daily operations. From emergency responders, command post, and even flightline operations, the ability to communicate effectively is necessary to ensure the mission doesn’t stop.It’s the sole responsibility of the Airmen attached to

  • Train like you fight: Recce MWDs receive new training area

    The 9th Security Forces Squadron military working dog unit recently completed a new training area designed to enhance the companionship between handlers and their dogsThe area provides a safer training environment and it features a shaded overhangs to keep it cool, a turf field, and a variety of

  • $866M contract sustains 6 missile warning radars

    The contract, awarded by the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, directly supports the continued operations of the Ballistic Missile Early Warning System (BMEWS), PAVE Phased Array Warning System (PAVE PAWS) and Perimeter Acquisition Radar Attack Characterization System radars. The radars are

  • Beale NDI team’s unique, time-saving RQ-4 inspection process

    9th Maintenance Squadron non-destructive inspection (NDI) Airmen are in the process of performing an inspection of the RQ-4 Global Hawk’s exterior and wings. Since the RQ-4 is made from composite material as opposed to metal the NDI requires ultrasonic inspection equipment. The Airmen use both

  • Bombs Away: Air Force Combat Operations Competition

    The 9th Munitions Squadron held the first-ever Air Force Combat Operations Competition (AFCOCOMP) June 12-14, 2018, here.AFCOCOMP is a unique munitions building competition designed to test participants on all of the aspects used by ammo troops in wartime operations.

  • Beale Air & Space Expo 2018

    Beale Air Force Base hosted an Air and Space Expo this past weekend with an itinerary filled with performances of aircraft representing different generations of air power.

  • Maintenance Airmen work together to bring Global Hawk back to the fight

    In August of 2016 an RQ-4 Global Hawk from Beale suffered a catastrophic fault in its oil system during a mission. The aircrew acted decisively to safely remotely-pilot the aircraft to Edwards Air Force Base, California. Last month, a group of maintenance Airmen from the 9th Aircraft Maintenance

  • ACC commander visits Beale

    Gen. Mike Holmes, commander of Air Combat Command, visited the base and met with members of Team Beale July 26-27.During his visit, Holmes toured various facilities where he spoke to Airmen and attended numerous meetings and briefings.

  • Enlisted RPA pilots soar to new heights

    The U.S. Air Force’s first three Enlisted Pilot Initial Class graduates are slated to complete their final phase of training requirements next month at Beale Air Force Base, California.

  • 9th Civil Engineer Squadron conquer darkness, confined spaces

    Clothed in a full-body, white protective suit, knee-high rubber boots and a gas mask, an Airman lowered himself into a man-hole. With each step further down the burnt orange, rusted ladder, the darkness swallowed him until he was completely gone from sight.

  • Fathers helping fathers

    The Family Advocacy Program gave several fathers the opportunity to participate in a “Dads 101” course April 22, 2016, at Beale Air Force Base, California.The course is designed to assist all fathers; soon to be, new and multiple children fathers with pre and post-birth of their newborn. “It’s a