April 28, 2017
Airman balanced through bodybuilding
CREECH AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. — As Semaj’s alarm screeches throughout her bedroom at 2:30 a.m. she awakes for her morning cardio session, checks on her six-year-old son Jamel and then laces up her running shoes. Staff Sgt. Semaj, 432nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron supply craftsman, does this every morning to keep her body in shape in preparation for her next bodybuilding event where she hopes to earn her professional status.
April 27, 2017
First MQ-9 model debuts at Tyndall Air Show
CREECH AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. — Airmen assigned to the 432nd Wing/432nd Air Expeditionary Wing showcased an MQ-9 Reaper at the 2017 Gulf Coast Salute Open House and Air Show April 22 and 23 at Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida. A team of MQ-9 Reaper pilots, sensor operators and maintenance personnel took part in unveiling the first MQ-9 model aircraft to the public. The model provided on-lookers with a realistic visual of the Reaper up-close and proved to be essential in building community understanding of the remotely piloted aircraft mission set and its impact abroad.
April 3, 2017
MQ-1, MQ-9 aircrews help liberate Manbij
CREECH AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. — In 2016 MQ-1 Predator and MQ-9 Reaper aircrews assisted coalition partners in the reclamation of Manbij, Syria, from Islamic State of Iraq and Syria forces. Pilots and sensor operators assigned to squadrons across the 432nd Wing and the 432nd Air Expeditionary Wing provided the close air support and reconnaissance needed for coalition partners to drive ISIS fighters out of the city.
March 29, 2017
Firefighters from Creech and Nellis turn up the heat
NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. — An Airman assigned to the 99th Civil Engineer Squadron Fire Protection Flight peers at the training instructor before beginning an aircraft live fire training exercise March 23, 2017, at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev. Firefighters are required to complete the exercise semi-annually in order to stay current with training requirements. (U.S. Air Force
RPA support unit wins inaugural award
CREECH AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. — The 432nd Operations Support Squadron earned the inaugural Jimmy Doolittle Educational Fellow for Outstanding Support to Armed UAVs March 2, 2017, at the Martin H. Harris Chapter of the Air Force Association Air Force Gala banquet in Orlando, Florida. Lt. Col. Scott, former 432nd OSS commander, accepted the award from acting Secretary of the Air Force Lisa Disbrow, alongside Air Force Gala Chairman Michael Liqouri, Chief of Staff of the Air Force Gen. David Goldfein, Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force Kaleth Wright and Martin H. Harris Chapter President Gary Lehmann.
March 22, 2017
MQ-9s participate in Red Flag 17-2
CREECH AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. — Remotely piloted MQ-9 Reaper aircrews from the 89th Attack Squadron at Ellsworth Air Force Base, South Dakota, alongside the 432nd Operations Support Squadron and 42nd ATKS at Creech Air Force Base participated in Red Flag 17-2 from Feb. 27 through March 10, 2017, at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada. The MQ-9s integrated with fourth generation platforms, such as F-15 Eagles and F-16 Falcons, from various U.S. and allied forces in realistic combat training scenarios designed to test and challenge each and every aircrew and their platform.
11th ATKS paves way with training
CREECH AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. — As technology on the battlefield changes and evolves, remotely piloted aircraft such as the MQ-1 Predator and MQ-9 Reaper, continue to provide combatant commanders with unblinking eyes and attack capabilities from the sky. Some of these capabilities, such as being able to stay airborne for nearly 24 hours, see with high fidelity both night and day and operate virtually unseen, makes RPAs a highly effective platform in the war on terrorism. To accomplish flight, two geographically separate aircrews work together: the mission control element and launch and recovery element. The MCE is responsible for executing the mission, while the LRE conducts successful takeoffs and landings. While being MCE certified is standard for all aircrews flying the MQ-1 and MQ-9, LR certification requires extra training.
March 16, 2017
Airmen raise hope, funds to cure childhood cancer
LAS VEGAS — Members of the 15th Attack Squadron get their heads shaved for a fundraiser March 11, 2017, in Las Vegas. The members shaved their heads to show support to children who have been diagnosed with cancer. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Christian Clausen)
March 10, 2017
Are your running shoes spying on you?
WASHINGTON (AFNS) — Five or 10 years ago, such a statement might have been appropriate for a cartoon matinee or slapstick farce, but in a new world defined by the Internet of Things, this statement isn’t just a possibility, but an actual cyber vulnerability to be aware of. Companies today are adding the word “smart” to a constellation of different products: water
March 6, 2017
America’s oldest RPA unit celebrates 75 years
CREECH AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. — Airmen from the 432nd Wing/432nd Air Expeditionary Wing celebrated the 11th Attack Squadron’s 75th anniversary of providing America with intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities here since March 2, 1942. Despite its long history of distinguished and honorable service, the 11th ATKS current mission consists of performing MQ-1 Predator and MQ-9 Reaper remotely piloted aircraft operations at Creech, where it’s been doing so for the last 20 years.