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U.S. Air Forces in Europe

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Headquartered at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, U.S. Air Forces in Europe (USAFE), is a major air force command and also EUCOM’s primary air component, planning and executing air and space operations in Europe and Asia to achieve NATO and U.S. objectives based on the EUCOM commander’s taskings.  

During most of the Cold War, USAFE was a fight-in-place force postured for a large-scale conflict. Since the fall of the Soviet Union, it has transitioned to an air expeditionary force with mobile, deployable people and resources that can simultaneously operate in multiple locations, able to conduct warfighting, humanitarian and peacekeeping operations, and other non-traditional contingencies. In peacetime, USAFE trains and equips NATO-affiliated Air Force units, also maintaining combat-ready units based from the United Kingdom to Turkey, and assets ready to perform close air support, air interdiction, air defense, in-flight refueling, long-range transport and maritime operation support. Despite a 67 percent drawdown of its main operating bases after the Cold War, USAFE remains a highly responsive and capable combat force.

More than 39,000 active-duty, reserve, Air National Guard and civilian employees are assigned to USAFE, and equipment assets include more than 200 fighter, attack, rotary wing, tanker, and transport aircraft, and a full complement of conventional weapons.

USAFE consists of two numbered air forces, seven main operating bases and 114 geographically separated locations. The USAFE primary operating bases are: Royal Air Force Lakenheath, United Kingdom; Royal Air Force Mildenhall, United Kingdom; Ramstein Air Base, Germany; Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany; Aviano Air Base, Italy; Lajes Air Base, the Azores; and Incirlik Air Base, Turkey.

For day-to-day and contingency operations, these bases report to Ramstein's Third Air Force, which supports EUCOM. It is USAFE's component numbered Air Force that maintains continuous theater-wide situational awareness.

For more information, visit USAFE’s Web site: http://www.usafe.af.mil/

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    EUCOM and SHAPE Senior Enlisted Leaders talk NCO leadership

    SHAPE Command Senior Enlisted Leader and EUCOM's Command Senior Enlisted Leader spotlight on the superb character of senior enlisted leadership
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    Afghanistan in 2012

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    The Power of Partnering in the Baltics

    In early March, we teamed up with Project Hope, a non-profit medical service organization, to work with us and our Baltic allies in Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia on some of the most relevant, important issues facing all of our forces.
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    Exploring Wounded Warrior issues in partner nations

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  • January 20, 2011

    Logisticians Do Work Headlines Don't Capture

    There are often times where you see headlines of stories but they don’t explain some of the behind the scenes work that goes on with major events. I wanted to share some of the efforts that occurred at U.S. European Command (EUCOM) and specifically the Logistics Directorate that explains our support to Israel during their recent wildfire disaster. I think it serves as a great example of our commitment to our partner nations.
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    Providing Relief for Our Russian Friends

    What an impressive couple of days...
  • July 28, 2010

    Explaining Interoperability

      The Farnborough International Air Show brings over 1,300 exhibitors, 165 static aircraft and 285,000 visitors into one area for a massive global aviation event.
  • March 8, 2010

    What Have You Jumped Into Lately?

    Last week in Kaiserslautern, Germany, the Fort Benning Jumpmaster Mobile Training Team graduated 19 new jumpmasters. I was among the graduates and my head still hurts from memorizing pre-jump training, my nerves are still frayed from PWAC (Practical Work in the Aircraft) and my fingers are still healing from JMPI (Jumpmaster Personnel Inspection). If you’ve been to the course, you know exactly what I’m talking about!
  • March 30, 2009

    USAFE Blog: First C-130 delivered to Poland

    The first Polish C-130E Hercules arrived at Powidz Air Base on 24 March 2009. In my role in the Office of Defense Cooperation at the U.S. Embassy in Warsaw, I serve as the in-country program coordinator; linking the many people in the U.S. who make this program a reality with their Polish counterparts.  (more)

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  • September 17, 2012

    Cleaning-up the school

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    Capt. Amanda Gierhart, C-17 pilot from the 315th Airlift Wing, based at Joint Base Charleston, S.C., is at the Berlin Air Show in Germany Sept. 11-16 representing the U.S. military in the Department of Defense corral.
  • September 11, 2012

    U.S. military support at the Berlin Air Show 2012

    BERLIN - About 60 U.S. military personnel are in Berlin, Germany, Sept. 11-16 for the Berlin Air Show, a major international air and trade show attracting more than 200,000 visitors.
  • September 11, 2012

    United we stand

    Remembrance of September 11th takes place all over the US and internationally every year. SSgt Amanda Wowk shows us how RAF Lakenheath in England is no exception.
  • September 10, 2012

    Gearing up for the Berlin Air Show

    Maj Gen Mark Schissler, U.S. European Command's director of Policy, Strategy, Partnering and Capabilities, discusses the importance of the Berlin Air Show at the ambassador's reception Sept. 10, 2012. This year's Berlin Air Show runs Sept. 11-16 and features multiple U.S. military aircraft from both the Army and the Air Force.
  • August 1, 2012

    Incirlik Air Base welcomes Turkish counterparts

    Members of the Turkish air force based in Ankara visited Incirlik Air Base recently. SrA Stephanie Berg reports from the 728th Air Mobility Squadron and explains why they were given a tour.
  • July 18, 2012

    Slovenian Officers

    Exercise Adriatic Strike in Slovenia - this training gives U.S. Joint Terminal Attack Controllers the chance to work directly with the militaries of other partner nations. SSgt Nathan Parry followed a Slovenian Lieutenant as he learned from the experience.
  • July 15, 2012

    F:A-18 Super Hornet at Farnborough International Airshow 2012

    The U.S. Navy's F/A-18 Super Hornet performs at the Farnborough International Airshow July 14, 2012, in Farnborough England. About 90 U.S. military personnel were at the show July 9-15 to represent the Department of Defense with aircraft from the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps.
  • July 15, 2012

    In the Ranks of an Ally

    U.S. Air Force Maj. James Gingras, French Air Force Academy exchange officer, lined up his cadets for review before marching them down the Champs de Elysee for the 2012, 14th of July parade in Paris.
  • July 9, 2012

    Saying goodbye

    The USAFE band performed at the International Music Festival in Poland where they teamed up with the Polish Air Force Band to make some beautiful music. Story by SSgt Joshua Peargin