Brian Everstine

Air advisers create English course for Afghan aviators

By Brian Everstine on March 25, 2015 Air Force

When a lack of English comprehension among Afghan pilots led to hazardous traffic in the skies over Jalalabad, a group of airmen responded by sending the pilots to the classroom. A group of Air Force Train, Assist, Advice, Command Air Advisors stationed at the base this month created a weeklong aviation English course specifically for Afghan pilots to help them communicate better. In January and February, miscommunication led to 19 hazardous traffic reports at the base. “[The situation] presented a major collision hazard to the US and NATO helicopters and fixed wing traffic that flows in and out each day,”…

Architect of the Capitol photo

House Air Force Caucus announces leaders

By Brian Everstine on March 19, 2015 Air Force, Leadership

The 70-member House of Representative Air Force Caucus this week announced its leadership for the 114th Congress, and it includes a group of representatives who are no strangers to the service. The co-chairs for this session are Reps. Michael Turner, R-Ohio; Sam Johnson, R-Texas, Madeleine Bordallo, D-Guam; and Niki Tsongas, D-Massachusetts. The caucus “seeks to educate other members of Congress on the Air Force’s role in national defense and raise pertinent issues related to Air Force manpower, capabilities and missions,” the group said in a statement. Throughout the year, the group has meeting with Air Force leaders and works…

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An F-35 is seen on the flightline at Luke Air Force Base, Arizona. Air Force photo

Luke jets conduct first F-35 flyover for the Pro Bowl

By Brian Everstine on January 26, 2015 Uncategorized

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cdq-ROAAu2g] Four F-35As from the 61st Fighter Squadron at Luke Air Force Base, Arizona, flew the first ceremonial flyover of Joint Strike Fighters at a public event Sunday night. The jets flew over University of Phoenix Stadium for the NFL Pro Bowl, while a joint honor guard of service members from across Arizona presented the colors before the game, according to the base. F-35s have been arriving at Luke since the summer. The base will eventually host 144 of the jets by 2024 for pilot training. The Air Force will conduct another flyover of the stadium for the Super Bowl…

Eielson airmen construct ice bridge

By Brian Everstine on January 9, 2015 Air Force, Video

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lt19ubNz7ks] Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, shared this video showing airmen at the base using the frigid temperatures to their advantage by building an ice bridge to a nearby training range. The ice bridge has to be constructed every other year so airmen can access range facilities, which are used in Red Flag- Alaska exercises, according to the Air Force. “We don’t always know what we have for ice, so it’s a little sketchy going across at first,” said Shawn Kelly, the 354th CES range maintenance foreman, said in an Air Force news story on the project. “Our first…

Academy Athletic Corporation seeking donations to send troops to bowl game

By Brian Everstine on December 10, 2014 Air Force, Air Force Academy, Sports

The Air Force Academy Athletic Corporation is soliciting donations to help send troops to their football bowl game later this month. The Air Force Falcons will take on Western Michigan in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl on Dec. 20 in Boise. The Academy has set up a site for supporters to donate money to get troops in the Boise area to the game. The Academy is donating helmets and jerseys for different amounts that have been donated. The donations are tax deductible. As of Dec. 10, the site has raised money for 272 tickets with a goal of 1,000 by…

Colorado guardsman named Broncos ‘man of the year’

By Brian Everstine on December 5, 2014 Air Force, Air Force Academy, Air National Guard

The Denver Broncos this week announced that offensive guard, and Colorado Air National Guard Capt. Ben Garland has been named their Walter Payton Man of the Year recipient. Garland, a public affairs officer with the 140th Wing at Buckley Air Force Base and Air Force Academy graduate, received the award for “outstanding leadership both on the field and in the community,” according to the team. Each NFL team names a player for the award, and one player will be named the award winner league-wide at the end of the season. Garland was selected both for his service and for founding…

Inside a close air support mission in Afghanistan

By Brian Everstine on November 24, 2014 Afghanistan, Air Force, Video

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8S-HeOrg98c] The 455th Air Expeditionary Wing posted this interview with F-16 pilots who recount a recent close air support mission in Afghanistan. The pilots featured are from the 100th Fighter Squadron of the Alabama Air National Guard.

A-10 fight to return to Capitol Hill on Thursday

By Brian Everstine on November 12, 2014 Air Force, budget cuts, Uncategorized

The battle over the future of the A-10 will return to Capitol Hill tomorrow as a group of lawmakers and Air Force veterans gather to call on the service to end its planned retirement of the jet. Sens. Kelly Ayotte, R-N.H., John McCain, R-Ariz., Lindsay Graham, R-S.C., Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., and Saxby Chambliss, R-Ga., will host an event with Reps. Ron Barber, D-Ariz., Vicki Hartzler, R-Mo., and Austin Scott, R-Ga., on Capitol Hill on Thursday. The press conference will come two days after the Air Force said it is discussing a compromise with Congress to just retire some of the…

Carlisle to take over ACC on Nov. 4

By Brian Everstine on October 29, 2014 Air Combat Command, Leadership

The next head of Air Combat Command, Gen. Hawk Carlisle, will officially take over on Nov. 4, the Air Force announced this week. Carlisle, who previously was the head of Pacific Air Forces, will take over for retiring ACC commander Gen. Mike Hostage. Carlisle is a command pilot with 3,600 flying hours in several aircraft. Prior to PACAF, he served as the deputy chief of staff for operations, plans and requirements at Headquarters Air Force in Washington. Hostage will retire after more than 37 years of service, including more than 4,000 flying hours in fighter aircraft, including more than 600…

Airman sings ‘God Bless America’ at the World Series

By Brian Everstine on October 27, 2014 Air Force, Sports, Video

Airman 1st Class Michelle Doolittle sang “God Bless America” last night during the fifth game of the World Series last night in San Francisco. Doolittle is a member of the Air Force Band Golden West at Travis Air Force Base, California, according to a Tweet from the service.

Author Brian Everstine