WEATHER ALERT
Military recruiting rebounds after several tough years, but challenges remain
Read full article: Military recruiting rebounds after several tough years, but challenges remainThe Army, Air Force, Marine Corps and Space Force say they will all meet their recruiting goals by the end of this month and the Navy will come very close.
UNLV and Air Force to remain in Mountain West with financial incentives, AP source says
Read full article: UNLV and Air Force to remain in Mountain West with financial incentives, AP source saysUNLV and Air Force have decided to remain in the Mountain West, allowing the conference to thwart off attempts at further poaching by the Pac-12 and American Athletic Conference, according to a person with knowledge of the decision.
Here's a look at the US military presence in the Middle East
Read full article: Here's a look at the US military presence in the Middle EastThe U.S. is sending several additional Air Force fighter jet squadrons to the Middle East, beefing up what has already been an increased military presence there as the region teeters on the brink of all-out war.
Ukraine's Zelenskyy displays newly arrived F-16 fighter jets to combat Russia in the air
Read full article: Ukraine's Zelenskyy displays newly arrived F-16 fighter jets to combat Russia in the airUkraine’s newly arrived F-16 fighter jets have been put on display by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who said the planes will boost the country’s war effort against Russia.
Japan Osprey crash caused by cracks in a gear and pilot’s decision to keep flying, Air Force says
Read full article: Japan Osprey crash caused by cracks in a gear and pilot’s decision to keep flying, Air Force saysThe Air Force says a deadly Osprey aircraft crash last November off Japan was caused by cracks in a metal gear and the pilot’s decision to keep flying instead of heeding multiple warnings that he should land.
‘Freedom isn’t free:’ Trooper Steve and News 6 photojournalist reflect on Honor Flight trip
Read full article: ‘Freedom isn’t free:’ Trooper Steve and News 6 photojournalist reflect on Honor Flight tripTrooper Steve and James 'Goose' Gosselin explain why this assignment is one of the highlights of their respective careers
‘What are we? Heroes:’ Trooper Steve and News 6 photojournalist go on Honor Flight to honor our veterans
Read full article: ‘What are we? Heroes:’ Trooper Steve and News 6 photojournalist go on Honor Flight to honor our veteransTrooper Steve and photojournalist James 'Goose' Gosselin document their 19-hour mission to honor our heroes
Air National Guard unit that was suspended after classified documents leak will restart mission
Read full article: Air National Guard unit that was suspended after classified documents leak will restart missionThe Air National Guard intelligence unit involved in the massive classified documents leak by an airman last year has been recertified and will start doing its mission again after months of investigations, improvements and inspections.
Who gets to claim self-defense in shootings? Airman’s death sparks debate over race and gun rights
Read full article: Who gets to claim self-defense in shootings? Airman’s death sparks debate over race and gun rightsThe death of Senior Airman Roger Fortson in Florida this month reignited a complicated debate about race, gun laws and self-defense – namely, who is typically afforded deference when it comes to using guns in self-defense and who is not.
Air Force instructor pilot killed when ejection seat activated on the ground
Read full article: Air Force instructor pilot killed when ejection seat activated on the groundThe Air Force says an instructor pilot was killed when the ejection seat activated while the turboprop aircraft was still on the ground at a Texas military base.
US aims to stay ahead of China in using AI to fly fighter jets, navigate without GPS and more
Read full article: US aims to stay ahead of China in using AI to fly fighter jets, navigate without GPS and moreWhen two U.S. fighter jets recently faced off in a dogfight in California, only one was piloted by a human.
An AI-controlled fighter jet took the Air Force leader for a historic ride. What that means for war
Read full article: An AI-controlled fighter jet took the Air Force leader for a historic ride. What that means for warAn experimental F-16 fighter jet has taken Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall on a history-making flight controlled by artificial intelligence and not a human pilot.
New recruiting programs put Army, Air Force on track to meet enlistment goals. Navy will fall short
Read full article: New recruiting programs put Army, Air Force on track to meet enlistment goals. Navy will fall shortThe Army and Air Force say they are on track to meet their recruiting goals this year, reversing previous shortfalls using a swath of new programs and policy changes.
AI-operated fighter jet will fly Air Force secretary in a test of military's future drone warplanes
Read full article: AI-operated fighter jet will fly Air Force secretary in a test of military's future drone warplanesThe Air Force is betting a large part of its future air warfare on a fleet of more than 1,000 autonomously operated combat aircraft.
Winter Park hosts Tuskegee Airmen Commemoration Day
Read full article: Winter Park hosts Tuskegee Airmen Commemoration DayOn Thursday evening inside the Winter Park Library, people came together to recognize Tuskegee Airmen Commemoration Day. The state will officially recognize the day next year on the fourth Thursday of March.
Military's Ospreys are cleared to return to flight, 3 months after latest fatal crash in Japan
Read full article: Military's Ospreys are cleared to return to flight, 3 months after latest fatal crash in JapanJapan says it'll join the U.S. military in returning its Ospreys to flight following the deaths of eight U.S. service members in a crash there in November.
‘We keep our promises to the men and women who serve:’ How DAV aims to help more veterans this year
Read full article: ‘We keep our promises to the men and women who serve:’ How DAV aims to help more veterans this yearDAV helps veterans get their benefits, and offers several assistance programs on everything from careers to medical appointment transportation
Osprey 'black box' from fatal Japan crash that killed 8 recovered with data intact, Air Force says
Read full article: Osprey 'black box' from fatal Japan crash that killed 8 recovered with data intact, Air Force saysThe Air Force has recovered the flight data recorder from the Air Force CV-22B Osprey that crashed off the coast of Japan in late November, and the data is intact — which could provide valuable clues for investigators as to what caused the crash.
‘Here’s Hope:’ K9s For Warriors helps husband, wife Air Force veterans find themselves again
Read full article: ‘Here’s Hope:’ K9s For Warriors helps husband, wife Air Force veterans find themselves againAshley and Daniel McCaffrey are both U.S. Air Force veterans who not only share the bond of marriage, but the understanding of the trauma that can sometimes come with defending our country.
Congress launches an investigation into the Osprey program after the deadly crash in Japan
Read full article: Congress launches an investigation into the Osprey program after the deadly crash in JapanA congressional oversight committee has launched an investigation into the V-22 Osprey program following a deadly crash in Japan, which killed eight Air Force special operations service members.
Armed Florida man accused of trying to enter military base as ‘Captain America’
Read full article: Armed Florida man accused of trying to enter military base as ‘Captain America’He called himself "Captain America" and claimed that he needed to speak with a general to provide "top secret information," the release says.
Air Force disciplines 15 as IG finds that security failures led to massive classified documents leak
Read full article: Air Force disciplines 15 as IG finds that security failures led to massive classified documents leakThe Air Force inspector general says the massive classified documents leak by a service member this year was made worse by the intentional failure of multiple officials to take required action on his suspicious behavior.
Friends of Oviedo airman killed after crash in Japan grieve over his death
Read full article: Friends of Oviedo airman killed after crash in Japan grieve over his deathNews 6 has learned a U.S. Air Force sergeant who enlisted out of Oviedo more than a decade ago was among the service members killed in a military aircraft last week in Japan.
Volusia County veteran remembers time providing security for former first lady Rosalynn Carter
Read full article: Volusia County veteran remembers time providing security for former first lady Rosalynn CarterA retired Air Force veteran now living in Volusia County reminisces on his time providing security for former first lady Rosalynn Carter.
Veteran’s Voice: US Air Force Sgt. Bob Horner
Read full article: Veteran’s Voice: US Air Force Sgt. Bob HornerBob entered the U.S. Air Force in 1968 and left the Air Force as a sergeant. Listen to Bob’s story as he walks us through decisions he made after graduating high school and why he chose this branch of the military.
STAT WATCH: Michigan's defensive dominance will be put to the test rest of way
Read full article: STAT WATCH: Michigan's defensive dominance will be put to the test rest of wayAs dominant as Michigan’s defense has been through nine games, where it ranks among the best of all-time is far from being determined.
Army's swarming defense forces 6 turnovers in 23-3 win, deals No. 17 Air Force first loss of season
Read full article: Army's swarming defense forces 6 turnovers in 23-3 win, deals No. 17 Air Force first loss of seasonBryson Daily ran for 170 yards and two touchdowns, Army’s defense forced six turnovers and the Black Knights knocked No. 17 Air Force from the list of undefeated teams with a 23-3 win.
The number of military suicides dipped in 2022 as the Pentagon works on new prevention programs
Read full article: The number of military suicides dipped in 2022 as the Pentagon works on new prevention programsU.S. officials say the number of suicides among military members and their families dipped slightly in 2022, compared with the previous year.
Founder of Joby Aviation says electric air taxis will be in service in 2025
Read full article: Founder of Joby Aviation says electric air taxis will be in service in 2025Joby Aviation is working to develop electric-powered aircraft that will take off and land like a helicopter but fly like a small plane.
JR Majewski, who quit Ohio GOP primary in May, rejoins race to challenge Democratic Rep. Kaptur
Read full article: JR Majewski, who quit Ohio GOP primary in May, rejoins race to challenge Democratic Rep. KapturA Republican backed by Donald Trump has rejoined next year’s race to take on Democratic U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur in northern Ohio.
Senate confirms chairman of joint chiefs as GOP senator still blocking hundreds of military nominees
Read full article: Senate confirms chairman of joint chiefs as GOP senator still blocking hundreds of military nomineesThe Senate has confirmed Gen. CQ Brown as the next chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, putting him in place to succeed Gen. Mark Milley when he retires at the end of the month.
What we know about the Marine Corps F-35 crash and here’s how long it flew without a pilot
Read full article: What we know about the Marine Corps F-35 crash and here’s how long it flew without a pilotThe crash of an F-35B Joint Strike Fighter aircraft in South Carolina over the weekend has raised numerous questions about what prompted the pilot to eject after experiencing a malfunction and how the $100 million warplane was able to keep flying pilotless for 60 miles before crashing.
Elon Musk's refusal to have Starlink support Ukraine attack in Crimea raises questions for Pentagon
Read full article: Elon Musk's refusal to have Starlink support Ukraine attack in Crimea raises questions for PentagonSpaceX founder Elon Musk’s refusal to allow Ukraine to use Starlink internet services to launch a surprise attack on Russian forces in Crimea last September has raised questions for the Pentagon.
Niger junta accuses France of amassing forces for a military intervention after the coup in July
Read full article: Niger junta accuses France of amassing forces for a military intervention after the coup in JulyNiger’s new military leaders have accused France of amassing forces for a possible military intervention in the country following the coup in July.
No harmful levels of PCBs found at Wyoming nuclear missile base as Air Force investigates cancers
Read full article: No harmful levels of PCBs found at Wyoming nuclear missile base as Air Force investigates cancersThe Air Force says no harmful levels of carcinogenic PCBs were found inside the launch facilities at a nuclear missile base in Wyoming.
US readying plans to evacuate drone bases if necessary under Niger's new junta, commander says
Read full article: US readying plans to evacuate drone bases if necessary under Niger's new junta, commander saysThe U.S. is making precautionary plans to evacuate two key drone and counter-terror bases in Niger if that becomes necessary under the West African nation’s new ruling junta.
Biden decides to keep Space Command in Colorado, rejecting move to Alabama
Read full article: Biden decides to keep Space Command in Colorado, rejecting move to AlabamaPresident Joe Biden has decided to keep the U.S. Space Command headquarters in Colorado, overturning a last-ditch decision by the Trump administration to move it to Alabama.
Watchdog: Nuclear states modernize their weapons, Chinese arsenal is growing
Read full article: Watchdog: Nuclear states modernize their weapons, Chinese arsenal is growingA report on the world's nuclear weapons says the nine nuclear-armed states continue to modernize their arsenals and several of them deployed new nuclear-armed or nuclear-capable weapons systems in 2022.
Join the military, become a US citizen: Uncle Sam wants you and vous and tu
Read full article: Join the military, become a US citizen: Uncle Sam wants you and vous and tuThe U.S. military has struggled to overcome recruiting shortfalls and as a way to try to address that problem, it's stepping up efforts to sign up immigrants.
Air Force picks Colorado for more Space Force missions as politics loom over headquarters decision
Read full article: Air Force picks Colorado for more Space Force missions as politics loom over headquarters decisionThe Air Force has announced the permanent location for many more U.S. Space Force units — and none of them are in Huntsville, Alabama.
Air Force fighter pilot tapped by Biden to be next Joint Chiefs chairman has history of firsts
Read full article: Air Force fighter pilot tapped by Biden to be next Joint Chiefs chairman has history of firstsThe Air Force fighter pilot tapped to be the next chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff got his call sign by ejecting from a burning F-16 fighter jet high above the Florida Everglades and falling into the watery sludge below.
Biden picks new National Security Agency head, key to support of Ukraine, defense of US elections
Read full article: Biden picks new National Security Agency head, key to support of Ukraine, defense of US electionsPresident Joe Biden has chosen a new leader for the National Security Agency and U.S. Cyber Command, a joint position that oversees much of America’s cyber warfare and defense.
Military sex assault reports rise, even as Army numbers fall
Read full article: Military sex assault reports rise, even as Army numbers fallThe Pentagon says the number of reported sexual assaults across the military inched up about 1% last year, as a sharp decline in Army numbers offset increases in the other three services.
DOJ tentatively settles over Texas church shooting for $144M
Read full article: DOJ tentatively settles over Texas church shooting for $144MThe Justice Department says it has tentatively settled a lawsuit over the 2017 mass shooting at a Texas church that will pay victims and their families more than $144 million.
Former Air Force officer gets prison term for Capitol attack
Read full article: Former Air Force officer gets prison term for Capitol attackA retired Air Force officer who stormed the U.S. Capitol dressed in combat gear and carried zip-tie handcuffs into the Senate gallery has been sentenced to two years in prison.
Air Force leader's spouse opened fire during Andrews breach
Read full article: Air Force leader's spouse opened fire during Andrews breachThe intruder who breached Joint Base Andrews, the home of Air Force One, reached the residence of one of the Air Force’s top leaders before her spouse opened fire.
Nuclear strike chief seeks cancer review of launch officers
Read full article: Nuclear strike chief seeks cancer review of launch officersThe top Air Force general in charge of the nation’s air- and ground-launched nuclear missiles has requested an official investigation into the number of officers who are reporting blood cancer diagnoses after serving at Malmstrom Air Force Base in Montana.
Air Force grounds entire B-2 fleet after emergency landing
Read full article: Air Force grounds entire B-2 fleet after emergency landingThe Air Force has grounded its entire fleet of B-2 stealth bombers following an emergency landing and fire earlier this month, and none of the strategic aircraft will perform flyovers at this years’ college bowl games.
Military suicides drop as leaders push new programs
Read full article: Military suicides drop as leaders push new programsA new report and Pentagon data show that suicides across the active duty U.S. military decreased over the past 18 months, driven by sharp drops in the Air Force and Marine Corps last year and a similar decline among Army soldiers during the first six months of this year.
US Army misses recruiting goal; other services squeak by
Read full article: US Army misses recruiting goal; other services squeak byThe Army fell about 15,000 soldiers — or 25% — short of its recruitment goal this year, despite a frantic effort to make up the widely expected gap in a year when all the military services struggled in a tight jobs market to find young people willing and fit to enlist.
Advanced anti-aircraft weapons head to Ukraine in 2 months
Read full article: Advanced anti-aircraft weapons head to Ukraine in 2 monthsThe Pentagon will deliver the first two advanced NASAMS anti-aircraft systems to Ukraine in the next two months, providing Kyiv with a weapon that it has pressed for since earlier this year.
Air Force: Crew not at fault for Afghan deaths in evacuation
Read full article: Air Force: Crew not at fault for Afghan deaths in evacuationThe Air Force has concluded that air crew members acted appropriately and were not at fault for some tragic deaths during the chaotic evacuation from Afghanistan last year, when desperate Afghans clung to a military plane as it was taking off and fell to their deaths or were caught in the wheels.
China makes semi-secret delivery of missiles to Serbia
Read full article: China makes semi-secret delivery of missiles to SerbiaRussian ally Serbia has taken delivery of a sophisticated Chinese anti-aircraft system in a semi-secret operation this weekend, amid Western concerns that an arms buildup in the Balkans at the time of the war in Ukraine could threaten the fragile peace in the region.
Air Force approves 9 religious exemptions for COVID vaccine
Read full article: Air Force approves 9 religious exemptions for COVID vaccineThe Air Force has became the second military service to approve religious exemptions to the mandatory COVID-19 vaccine, granting requests from nine airmen to avoid the shots.
Across services, troops face discipline for refusing vaccine
Read full article: Across services, troops face discipline for refusing vaccineU.S. officials say all of the military services have now begun disciplinary actions and discharges for troops who have refused to get the mandated coronavirus vaccine, with as many as 20,000 unvaccinated forces at risk of being removed from service.
Air Force discharges 27 for refusal to get COVID vaccine
Read full article: Air Force discharges 27 for refusal to get COVID vaccineThe Air Force has discharged 27 people for refusing to get the COVID-19 vaccine, making them what officials believe are the first service members to be removed for disobeying the mandate to get the shots.
Thousands of Air Guard, Reserves don't meet vaccine deadline
Read full article: Thousands of Air Guard, Reserves don't meet vaccine deadlineMore than 6% of the Air National Guard and Reserve did not meet the deadline to get the COVID-19 vaccine, and could begin to face consequences if they don’t get the mandated shots or receive an exemption, the Air Force said Friday.
Here’s what it takes to transport a NOAA satellite from Colorado to Florida
Read full article: Here’s what it takes to transport a NOAA satellite from Colorado to FloridaThe unmistakable roar of four jet engines broke the dead-of-night silence at Kennedy Space Center earlier this month, marking the arrival of a massive Air Force transport at the landing facility once used for space shuttles.
Taiwan sends jets after 27 Chinese planes enter buffer zone
Read full article: Taiwan sends jets after 27 Chinese planes enter buffer zoneTaiwan says 27 Chinese aircraft entered its air defense buffer zone in the latest in a long series of incursions as part of Beijing’s pressure on the self-ruled island.
Taiwan deploys advanced F-16V fighter jets amid China threat
Read full article: Taiwan deploys advanced F-16V fighter jets amid China threatTaiwan has deployed the most advanced version of the F-16 fighter jet in its air force, as the self-ruled island steps up its defense capabilities in the face of continuing threats from China.
Air Force report: Nearly half in survey saw abuse, violence
Read full article: Air Force report: Nearly half in survey saw abuse, violenceA new report says more than half of Air Force and Space Force personnel who responded to a survey said they've experienced some type of mental or physical abuse in the past two years.
Air Force says nearly 8,500 miss deadline for COVID-19 shots
Read full article: Air Force says nearly 8,500 miss deadline for COVID-19 shotsThe Air Force says nearly 8,500 active duty members of the Air Force and Space Force have missed the deadline for getting COVID-19 vaccinations, including 800 who flatly refused and nearly 5,000 with pending requests for a religious exemption.
Military weighs penalties for those who refuse COVID vaccine
Read full article: Military weighs penalties for those who refuse COVID vaccineAs deadlines loom for military and defense civilians to get mandated COVID-19 vaccines, senior leaders are wrestling with the fate of tens of thousands who flatly refuse the shots or are seeking exemptions, and how to make sure they are treated fairly and equally.
Country star Toby Keith to headline free concert hosted by Orlando attorney Dan Newlin
Read full article: Country star Toby Keith to headline free concert hosted by Orlando attorney Dan NewlinOrlando attorney Dan Newlin is set to host a free concert in December featuring some of the biggest names in Country music.
No. 22 San Diego St. builds lead, holds off Air Force 20-14
Read full article: No. 22 San Diego St. builds lead, holds off Air Force 20-14Matt Araiza kicked two field goals, Kaegun Williams and Chance Bell and ran for touchdowns and No. 22 San Diego State withstood Air Force’s comeback bid to win 20-14.
Air Force general is second woman to lead a top US command
Read full article: Air Force general is second woman to lead a top US commandAir Force Gen. Jacqueline Van Ovost has became only the second woman to lead one of the Pentagon’s 11 so-called combatant commands that spearhead the military’s worldwide operations.
China plans to unveil drones, moon rocket at air show
Read full article: China plans to unveil drones, moon rocket at air showA military drone whose manufacturer says it can cruise for 20 hours at 15,000 meters (50,000 feet) is among Chinese warplanes, missiles and other weapons technology shown in public for the first time at the country’s biggest air show.
Report: Air Force women, minorities face harassment and bias
Read full article: Report: Air Force women, minorities face harassment and biasA new study finds that about a third of the female service members in the Air Force and Space Force say they’ve experienced sexual harassment and many can describe accounts of sexism and a stigma associated with pregnancy and maternity leave.
'It looked apocalyptic': Crew describes Afghan departure
Read full article: 'It looked apocalyptic': Crew describes Afghan departureThe U.S. military pilots and aircrew who made the final flights out of Afghanistan say the sky was lit up with fireworks and sporadic gunfire and the airfield littered with battered shells of airplanes and destroyed equipment.
Military leaders wary of changes in sexual assault policy
Read full article: Military leaders wary of changes in sexual assault policyThe Associated Press has learned that leaders of the military services have expressed reservations to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin about removing sexual assault cases from the chain of command.
3 Russian military pilots killed when ejection seats accidentally activate
Read full article: 3 Russian military pilots killed when ejection seats accidentally activate(AP Photo/Pavel Golovkin, Pool)MOSCOW – Three members of a Russian bomber's air crew died Tuesday when their ejection seats accidentally activated during preflight checks, the military said. The Russian Defense Ministry said the incident happened at an airbase in the Kaluga region, about 145 kilometers (90 miles) southwest of Moscow. It said the crew of a Tu-22M3 long-range bomber was preparing for a training mission when its ejection system malfunctioned and accidentally shot the crew out. Russian news reports said the fourth crew member survived the incident and was hospitalized. About 60 are estimated to remain in service with the Russian air force, and some have flown bombing missions to strike militants in Syria from their bases in Russia.
At Air Force One base, intruder given up by ‘mouse ears’
Read full article: At Air Force One base, intruder given up by ‘mouse ears’President Joe Biden waves as he and first lady Jill Biden board Air Force One at Ellington Field Joint Reserve Base in Houston, Friday, Feb. 26, 2021. Officials said he never got close to Air Force One. Hours later, the man walked undetected onto the flight line by slipping through a fence designed to restrict entry. Said said the modified Boeing 747 that serves as Air Force One for presidential travel was never at risk and that it is kept behind more layers of protection at Andrews. He did no harm and the Air Force investigation report, which was heavily censored by the Air Force before it was released Thursday, concluded that he had no plan to cause harm to Air Force personnel or equipment.
UAE weapons show draws major deals, traders amid pandemic
Read full article: UAE weapons show draws major deals, traders amid pandemic(AP Photo/Kamran Jebreili)ABU DHABI – In spite of the surging coronavirus pandemic, major arms makers descended Sunday on a convention center in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates, hoping to make deals with militaries across the Middle East. The UAE unveiled $1.36 billion in local and foreign arms deals to supply its forces with everything from South African drones to Serbian artillery. Significant national pavilions were absent, including the United States, the world’s largest arms exporter. Ad“The threats are obvious lately,” said Walid Abukhaled, CEO of Saudi Arabian Military Industries Company, a holding company owned by the country’s sovereign wealth fund. “If Iran goes into a major rearmament program or starts to flex its muscles, that’s where missile defense and air defense systems come in,” he said.
Inspector general reviews Trump relocation of Space Command
Read full article: Inspector general reviews Trump relocation of Space Command(AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster, File)DENVER – The Department of Defense's inspector general announced Friday that it was reviewing the Trump administration's last-minute decision to relocate U.S. Space Command from Colorado to Alabama. “Moving Space Command will disrupt the mission while risking our national security and economic vitality,” the senators said in a joint statement. We fully support the investigation.”Among other duties, the Space Command enables satellite-based navigation and troop communication and provides warning of missile launches. The Space Command differs from the U.S. Space Force, launched in December 2019 as the first new military service since the Air Force was created in 1947. The Space Command is not an individual military service but a central command for militarywide space operations.