Afghan Duty

Sept. 1, 2004
In the badlands of Afghanistan, USAF airmen and their allies continue Operation Enduring Freedom.

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Virtual Events: Wilsbach on Mitchell’s ‘Aerospace Nation,’ and More

Oct. 22, 2020
On Oct. 27, the Air Force Association's Mitchell Institute will host an installment of its “Aerospace Nation” series featuring Pacific Air Forces Commander Gen. Kenneth S. Wilsbach. The think tank will post event video on its website and YouTube page after the live event.

Former SECAF Sees More Opportunity for Military Reform

Oct. 22, 2020
Nearly 18 months out of office, former Air Force Secretary Heather A. Wilson indicated the service has more work to do on the reforms she championed over the course of two years. Wilson, now president of the University of Texas at El Paso, pursued multiple pet projects in the top…

Citing Wildfires, Western Senators Lobby for Nevada C-130 Upgrades

Oct. 22, 2020
Four Democratic senators are pushing the Air Force to send eight C-130J aircraft to the Nevada Air National Guard to bolster firefighting missions as the American West continues to suffer from devastating wildfires. Sens. Catherine Cortez Masto and Jacky Rosen of Nevada, and Dianne Feinstein and Kamala Harris of California—the…

Eielson F-35s Get Arctic Survival Kits

Oct. 22, 2020
Arctic survival kits are the newest feature on the Air Force's F-35A Joint Strike Fighters at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska. The F-35 was not designed to carry sleeping bags and other equipment to protect pilots if they need to eject into the brutal Arctic temperatures, which regularly dip to…

USAF Asks Airmen for Input on Women’s Hair Regulations

Oct. 22, 2020
The Air Force Women’s Initiative Team has launched a survey to get female Airmen’s feedback on whether and how USAF should change its rules for how women can wear their hair while in uniform. The Women’s Initiative Team will use the data “to educate Air Force General Officers on what…

Russia, China Push STRATCOM to Reconsider Strategic Deterrence

Oct. 21, 2020
Adversaries such as Russia and China have “blurred the lines” when it comes to conventional and nuclear conflict, forcing the U.S. to rethink the way it approaches strategic deterrence. U.S. Strategic Command boss Adm. Charles “Chas” A. Richard said his command is conducting an “exhaustive assessment” of the current threat…

Space Force Launches New Operations Branch

Oct. 21, 2020
The Space Force on Oct. 21 formally stood up its Space Operations Command, the largest organization to run satellites, radars, and other combat assets for regional military commanders around the world. Lt. Gen. Stephen N. Whiting will run SpOC at Peterson Air Force Base, Colo. He has held similar positions…

Russia Intercepts USAF B-1 Bombers Over Bering Sea

Oct. 21, 2020
Russian aircraft intercepted two B-1 bombers over the Bering Sea on Oct. 20, the Russian Defense Ministry announced on Twitter. The USAF aircraft never entered Russia's sovereign airspace, and the Russian planes followed “international airspace rules,” the ministry added. Pacific Air Forces on Oct. 21 confirmed that two of its…

Contentious Corona Debates Push Budget Decisions

Oct. 21, 2020
Although the Air Force expected to finalize a lot of its budget and force-design decisions at the top-level Corona meeting earlier this month, debate and competition for resources will push decisions to a later time, Chief of Staff Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr said Oct. 21. Brown said major commands…