Meet the Space Force, the military’s newest branch

Meet the Space Force, the military’s newest branch

“The Ultimate High Ground” Beam us up, Scotty. The United States now has a new sixth military service as President Trump signed the Space Force into being on December 20 at Joint Base Andrews right outside of Washington, D.C. When the President signed off on the 2020 Defense Authorization Bill, he also established the Space […]

Air Force releases more information on new Special Warfare career field

Air Force releases more information on new Special Warfare career field

The Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) has released more information about the incoming changes in the new Special Warfare career field. Launched this past October, Special Warfare is comprised of the Pararescue (1Z1), Combat Control (1Z2), Tactical Air Control Party (1Z3) and Special Reconnaissance (1Z4) Air Force Specialties. Previously these were separate career fields, […]

Air Force releases criteria for new controversial Combat Medal

Air Force releases criteria for new controversial Combat Medal

The Air Force has announced the eligibility criteria for the Remote Combat Effects Campaign Medal (RCECM). The RCECM aims to recognize the actions of non-deployable Air Force personnel in ground combat. It is, in fact, tailored to the Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) community, which has been providing key intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance (ISR) and air support […]

Air Force suspends active recovery efforts for missing Combat Controller

Air Force suspends active recovery efforts for missing Combat Controller

In an unfortunate turn of events, the Air Force announced that it will suspend the active recovery efforts for Staff Sergeant Cole Condiff, who has been missing in action since he accidentally fell from an aircraft on November 5. Sgt. Cole Condiff, a Combat Controller assigned to the 23rd Special Tactics Squadron (23rd STS), 24th […]

The Air Force’s ‘arsenal plane’ concept will pair F-35s with missile-laden bombers

The Air Force’s ‘arsenal plane’ concept will pair F-35s with missile-laden bombers

For all the strengths boasted by America’s F-35 Joint Strike Fighters and F-22 Raptors, these stealthy fifth generation platforms still suffer from one significant drawback during combat operations: their relatively low magazine capacity. In order to maintain their stealthy profile, these fighters have to carry their ordnance internally, limiting the firepower they can bring into […]

The Air Force wants to connect its secret space plane to the F-35

The Air Force wants to connect its secret space plane to the F-35

The Air Force’s X-37B is a Boeing-built unmanned spacecraft that bears a striking resemblance to the old Space Shuttle (despite being significantly smaller). Although the program itself is shrouded in secrecy, its long-term orbital missions often make the headlines, thanks in no small part to the decidedly un-secret sonic booms the platform creates over Florida […]

Air Force identifies missing Combat Controller

Air Force identifies missing Combat Controller

The Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) has identified the missing Special Tactics operator, who fell from a C-130 during a training exercise last Tuesday, November 5. U.S. Air Force Staff Sergeant Cole Condiff was a Special Tactics Combat Controller (CCT) assigned to the 23rd Special Tactics Squadron (23rd STS), 24th Special Operations Wing (24th […]

F-105 “Thud” mechanic recalls Vietnam days

F-105 “Thud” mechanic recalls Vietnam days

An F-105 Thunderchief avionics technician remembers writes what it was like to work on the jet and live in Southeast Asia during the Vietnam War. I’ll be writing from memory after 48 years and it grows dimmer with the passage of time and the aging process. But during this revisit to my time in the […]

Special Warfare Operator: The Air Force’s new SOF job opens up

Special Warfare Operator: The Air Force’s new SOF job opens up

The Air Force’s new Special Operations career field is about to launch. After years of planning and much deliberation, the long-awaited Special Warfare (SW) career field opens up on October 31. The Special Warfare (1Z) career field will now encompass four Air Force Specialty Codes (AFSCs), which is the nomenclature that the Air Force utilizes […]

The Video of the Week: Air Force EOD and Special Forces operators clear ISIS tunnel

The Video of the Week: Air Force EOD and Special Forces operators clear ISIS tunnel

As Turkey invades Northern Syria in an attempt to secure its southern border, deal with the Kurds, and relocate a few millions of people, it worth remembering why U.S. warfighters are in Syria in the first place. This video shows an Air Force Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) technician attached to a Special Forces Operational Detachment […]

The Pic of the Day: The Air Force’s Tier 1 SOF unit

The Pic of the Day: The Air Force’s Tier 1 SOF unit

Members from the U.S. Air Force 24th Special Tactics Squadron (24th STS), Fort Bragg, complete helo, fast rope, and hoisting training during exercise Advanced Guard, Holloman Air Force Base, N.M., April 14, 2014. Advanced Guard is a multimillion-dollar exercise spanning across the states to train special operators to conduct joint operations. The 24th STS is […]