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Shooting down enemy aircraft over American soil is an event U.S.-based alert pilots train for. They run exercise scenarios on a constant basis, preparing for that call to scramble. But all the dry runs in the world can't prepare a pilot for that moment when a live missile is released from the jet. That's why the 148th Fighter Wing out of Duluth, Minn., is spending two weeks here working with the 53rd Weapons Evaluation Group. "We came here to shoot missiles and drop live ordnance to be better prepared for our Air Sovereignty Alert mission," said Lt. Col. Reed Bowman,...

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Members of the 1st Battalion 265 Air Defense Artillery have mobilized and are on a plane headed first to Ft. Bliss, then for federal active duty in the capital region. The troops will be deployed for a year. "It's going to be all right It's OK if he helps people and everything, and it's his job. He’s got to do it. He just got to do it," Jessica Ward said, whose father is being deployed. Click here to find out more! Jessica speaks for many when she talks about her father's deployment. Michael Ward and company...

01/23/2006 - LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va., (ACCNS) -- The 27th Fighter Squadron passed another milestone Jan. 22 after completing an Operation Noble Eagle mission in the F-22A. The Jan. 21 and 22 mission over the U.S. marks the first operational mission in the new fighter aircraft since it was declared Initial Operational Capable in December. Operation Noble Eagle provides air defense over the U.S. and Canada in order to prevent a future 9-11 type attack. Since the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, North American Aerospace Defense Command fighters have responded to more than 2,000 air events within the United States...

Just observed what appeared to be 3 or 4 jet aircraft, (military type fighter aircraft), following a commercial airliner, westbound into LAX about 2 minutes ago. From the OC area. My first thought was possibly AF-1 but I don't think POTUS is in the region.

  NORTHCOM Unit Recognized for Homeland Security Efforts By Anthony J. FalvoSpecial to American Forces Press Service NORFOLK, Va., April 1, 2004 – For its accomplishments and contributions to Operation Noble Eagle and the overall security of the United States, Standing Joint Force Headquarters-Homeland Security, a component command of U.S. Northern Command, received the Joint Meritorious Unit Award and the Global War on Terrorism Medal in a March 26 ceremony here. Air Force Gen. Ralph E. Eberhart (center), commander North American Aerospace Defense Command and U.S. Northern Command, places the Global War on Terrorism campaign streamer on the Standing...

  Reserves Wrap Up at Fort Campbell as Active Forces Return By Donna MilesAmerican Forces Press Service WASHINGTON, March 24, 2004 — For soldiers of the Army Reserve's 3397th Garrison Support Unit, the war on terror begins about 150 miles from their unit headquarters in Chattanooga, Tenn. — at the front gates of Fort Campbell, Ky. Reservists from the 3397th Garrison Support Unit help ensure safe operations at the Fort Campbell, Ky., railhead as the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) unloads equipment from Iraq. Photo by Donna Miles(Click photo for screen-resolution image); high-resolution image available. That's where the unit's...

  American Soldier Defender of Freedom In December of 2003, the Army National Guard launched the "Freedom Salute Campaign", an unprecedented program designed to recognize Army National Guard soldiers, their families, and others who have supported them as they answered the call to duty-both at home and abroad.Eligible soldiers include those who were mobilized under one of three Operational Orders (Noble Eagle, Enduring Freedom, or Iraqi Freedom) or were on orders in support of those Operations for more than 30 days. (This includes state active duty mobilized soldiers and Title 10 soldiers). Each eligible soldier will receive an encased...

Manchester, KY Authorities say an Army National Guardsman is dead and another critically injured after their Humvee was hit by a coal truck. The collision happened last night around 8:15 p.m. (eastern time) on the Hal Rogers Parkway outside Manchester. National Guard spokesman Phil Miller says a convoy of three Humvees and two buses was traveling westbound from a Guard base in Hazard to a training facility in Artemus near Barbourville. Miller says one of the Humvees was struck by a coal truck traveling in the opposite direction, killing the driver, 43-year-old Specialist Glenn Stanfill of Hazard. His son, 18-year-old...

Bush to Meet With National Guard Members By SCOTT LINDLAW WASHINGTON - After trying to quell stories about his Vietnam-era military record, President Bush is seeking to move beyond it by meeting with National Guard members in Louisiana. Bush was spending Tuesday at Fort Polk, La., giving a speech to thank troops there for their service and sacrifice, White House aides said. Two soldiers killed by a roadside bomb while on mounted patrol in Iraq last week were assigned to Fort Polk. In the address, Bush also was reminding troops about the stakes in the war on terrorism and in...

(Participating; Gen. Richard Myers, Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff) Gen. Myers (?): We've been walking for -- (inaudible.) Sec. Rumsfeld: We're here! (Laughter.) (Laughs.) What a jaunt! Q: This doesn't mean less briefings though, right? Sec. Rumsfeld: No! Whatever. (Laughter.) Q: Get one of those electric cars. Sec. Rumsfeld: (Laughs.) Well, good afternoon. This is -- I like to know what's behind me -- this is the first briefing we've had here in this new studio. It looks about the same. Some of the faces are the same, I see. The holidays are upon us, and that certainly is...

NORAD Monitors U.S. Skies to Protect the Homeland By Donna MilesAmerican Forces Press Service WASHINGTON, Oct. 14, 2003 - On the morning of Sept. 11, 2001, the staff at the North American Aerospace Defense Command was poised to identify a missile test or space launch anywhere in the world, or to tell exactly how many items of "space junk" were circling the globe. What they didn't know was that four commercial airplanes hijacked within U.S. borders were launching an orchestrated terrorist attack on the United States. That's because, at the time, the eyes and ears of NORAD were focused...

Noise Source Traced To Buckley Jets On Patrol DENVER -- Two F-16 jet aircraft from the 120th Fighter Squadron of the Colorado Air National Guard broke the sound barrier over the metro area Wednesday afternoon, creating a sonic boom that prompted dozens of worried phone calls to 911 operators from area residents. Buckley Air Force Base said that the two jets were flying an "irregular air patrol" for North American Aerospace Defense Command in support of Operation Noble Eagle when they both exceeded the speed of sound, causing the sonic boom. It was loudest over Westminster and Broomfield, according to...

Buckley AFB F-16s take up residence as runways improved By Dominic Weilminster, Rocky Mountain News June 11, 2003 Sleek, sharp curves make Buckley Air Force Base's F-16 squadron look like Ferraris parked in a lot of buslike jumbo jets. But their presence at Denver International Airport so far has caused little commotion. The 15 fighters are stationed away from home temporarily while their runway system is revamped. "Everything is really integrated well," said Maj. Jerome Dyck, acting public affairs spokesman for the squadron. According to Dyck, despite minor delays for F-16 practice flights to accommodate airliners, there have been almost...

Aug 13, 2002 (Defense Daily/PBI Media via COMTEX) -- Special Operations Forces (SOF) and Air Force enlisted tactical air controllers on the ground greatly aided reconnaissance and targeting and provided immediate battle damage and operational assessments of enemy Al-Qaeda fighters during Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) in Afghanistan, an Air Force official told Defense Daily in an interview yesterday. "'Eyes on the ground' did the following: First and foremost, it demonstrated resolve and provided unique capabilities on the ground, such as strategic reconnaissance, direct attack, as well as support to the unconventional warfight," said Col. Fred Wieners, director of Task Force...