James: No Involuntary Force Management in 2015

The Air Force will not continue involuntary force reductions in Fiscal 2015 as previously planned, Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James announced Tuesday morning. “Enough is enough. We are as low as we are going to go,” the Secretary said...

New Rules of Engagement in Afghanistan

By Marc V. Schanz
The US combat mission in Afghanistan is over “for all intents and purposes,” Pentagon spokesman Rear Adm. John Kirby told reporters Tuesday, and while troops still retain self defense authority, after Jan. 1, 2015, the scenarios under which remaining US...

Russia Claims Nukes in Crimea Possible

Russian officials asserted their right to station nuclear weapons in Crimea, though there is no intention of doing so at present, according to remarks by Russian foreign and defense officials. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that under international law,...

Ninth AF Commander Flies in Razor Talon

Maj. Gen. H.D. Polumbo Jr, commander of 9th Air Force at Shaw AFB, S.C., paid a visit to Seymour Johnson AFB, N.C. earlier this month where he flew an F-16 in support of Exercise Razor Talon. Polumbo flew in the...

Operation Christmas Drop Wraps With New Milestone

Mobility airmen from Yokota AB, Japan dropped the last bundle of Operation Christmas Drop over the Micronesian Islands on Dec. 13, setting a new milestone for the annual humanitarian mission, which dates back to 1952. Supported by airmen from the...

Unlikely Angels

A C-17 Globemaster crew diverted to locate a crashed Army UH-60 helicopter during a routine training sortie from JB Charleston, S.C., earlier this month. “Around the time of the incident, we had just completed our airdrop training and were preparing...

California ANG Rescues Fisherman in the Pacific

A pararescue team from the 129th Rescue Wing out of Moffett Federal Airfield, Calif., saved the life of a young fisherman in the Pacific Monday, according to a Dec. 15 release. The 24-year-old male grew ill, requiring more treatment than...

AF Reservists Support Orion Mission

The Air Force Reserve’s 920th Rescue Wing out of Patrick AFB, Fla., provided security, safety and patrol support when NASA launched a test flight of its Orion deep space capsule earlier this month. “What a thrill and tremendous opportunity for...

No Decision on Canadian F-35s

Canada will remain an F-35 development partner “to keep all options open until a decision is made” on what aircraft, or mix of aircraft, will replace the Royal Canadian Air Force’s CF-18 Hornet fleet, stated an annual summary released on...