A plane that crashed in Afghanistan’s central Ghazni province on Monday, reportedly killing everyone on board, has been confirmed as belonging to the U.S. Air Force.

US Air Force plane crashes in Afghanistan

After a successful rocket abort system test, SpaceX to carry humans into orbit this year

The base had held a small US Air Force contingent as well as American contractors, but a majority had been evacuated following tensions between the US and Iran over the past two weeks. #WION

Six rockets hit Iraq base hosting US troops

A Sikh airman has been allowed by the United States Air Force to serve with a beard, turban and unshorn hair, making him the first active-duty airman to be granted such a religious accommodation.

Airman Harpreetinder Singh, who joined the Air Force in 2017, was unable to follow the practice due to the military branch's grooming and dress codes.&nbsp;

The Air Force granted him an accommodation after Bajwa gained representation from the Sikh American Veterans Alliance, and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), NBC News reported.

Bajwa, a crew chief at McChord Air Force Base, Washington, is now the first active airman who has been authorised to adhere to Sikh religious grooming and dress principles while serving in the Air Force.

"I'm overjoyed that the Air Force has granted my religious accommodation, said Bajwa.&nbsp;

"Today, I feel that my country has embraced my Sikh heritage, and I will be forever grateful for this opportunity," he said.

Bajwa says be initially asked if he could request a waiver during tech training a year ago in Charleston, South Carolina, and said he was never told "no" by leadership.

"I'm extremely happy I can practice my faith and serve my country," said Bajwa.

A first-generation American, Bajwa was born to an immigrant family.

In 2016, Captain Simratpal Singh, a decorated Sikh-American officer and combat veteran, received a long-term religious accommodation from the US Army to serve with long hair, a beard, and turban. The Army updated its regulations the following year directing commanders to allow accommodations for observant Sikhs.

Heather L Weaver, a senior staff attorney for the ACLU, praised the Air Force's decision.

"No one should have to choose between following their faith or serving their country," Weaver said.&nbsp;

"We're pleased that the Air Force granted our client's request, and we hope that all branches of the military come to recognize the importance of religious inclusion and diversity."

A Sikh airman has been allowed by the United States Air Force to serve with a beard, turban and unshorn hair, making him the first active-duty airman to be granted such a religious accommodation.

A Sikh airman has been allowed by the United States Air Force to serve with a beard, turban and unshorn hair, making him the first active-duty airman to be granted such a religious accommodation. Airman Harpreetinder Singh, who joined the Air Force in 2017, was unable to follow the practice due to the military branch's grooming and dress codes. The Air Force granted him an accommodation after Bajwa gained representation from the Sikh American Veterans Alliance, and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), NBC News reported. Bajwa, a crew chief at McChord Air Force Base, Washington, is now the first active airman who has been authorised to adhere to Sikh religious grooming and dress principles while serving in the Air Force. "I'm overjoyed that the Air Force has granted my religious accommodation, said Bajwa. "Today, I feel that my country has embraced my Sikh heritage, and I will be forever grateful for this opportunity," he said. Bajwa says be initially asked if he could request a waiver during tech training a year ago in Charleston, South Carolina, and said he was never told "no" by leadership. "I'm extremely happy I can practice my faith and serve my country," said Bajwa. A first-generation American, Bajwa was born to an immigrant family. In 2016, Captain Simratpal Singh, a decorated Sikh-American officer and combat veteran, received a long-term religious accommodation from the US Army to serve with long hair, a beard, and turban. The Army updated its regulations the following year directing commanders to allow accommodations for observant Sikhs. Heather L Weaver, a senior staff attorney for the ACLU, praised the Air Force's decision. "No one should have to choose between following their faith or serving their country," Weaver said. "We're pleased that the Air Force granted our client's request, and we hope that all branches of the military come to recognize the importance of religious inclusion and diversity."

Sikh-American airman allowed by US Air Force to keep turban, beard on active duty

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-tells-pennsylvania-voters-that-trade-war-has-helped-economy-220284">US President Donald Trump</a> announced Tuesday he had nominated a former ambassador and Arizona businesswoman to lead the Air Force.

Barbara Barrett, 68, served as the US ambassador to Finland from 2008 to 2009 under the George W&nbsp;Bush administration. She also chaired an aeronautics research and development centre, The Aerospace Corporation, until 2017.

"She will be an outstanding Secretary!" Trump tweeted.

A former lawyer and test pilot, Barrett is also a board member at the Rand Corporation, a think tank that provides research and analysis to the US armed forces.

She and her husband Craig, the former CEO of American technology giant Intel, are major Republican donors. Barrett ran for governor of Arizona on the GOP ticket in 1994, the first woman to do so, but she failed to secure her party's nomination.

If she is confirmed, Barrett will succeed another woman, Heather Wilson, in the position of secretary of the air force.

Wilson's name had come up as a potential replacement for Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, who resigned in December because of differences over Trump's policies on Syria and other issues.

Wilson stepped down in March, the highest level Pentagon departure since that of Mattis, once it became apparent that interim Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan would stay in that post.

US President Donald Trump announced Tuesday he had nominated a former ambassador and Arizona businesswoman to lead the Air Force. Barbara Barrett, 68, served as the US ambassador to Finland from 2008 to 2009 under the George W Bush administration.

US President Donald Trump announced Tuesday he had nominated a former ambassador and Arizona businesswoman to lead the Air Force. Barbara Barrett, 68, served as the US ambassador to Finland from 2008 to 2009 under the George W Bush administration. She also chaired an aeronautics research and development centre, The Aerospace Corporation, until 2017. "She will be an outstanding Secretary!" Trump tweeted. A former lawyer and test pilot, Barrett is also a board member at the Rand Corporation, a think tank that provides research and analysis to the US armed forces. She and her husband Craig, the former CEO of American technology giant Intel, are major Republican donors. Barrett ran for governor of Arizona on the GOP ticket in 1994, the first woman to do so, but she failed to secure her party's nomination. If she is confirmed, Barrett will succeed another woman, Heather Wilson, in the position of secretary of the air force. Wilson's name had come up as a potential replacement for Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, who resigned in December because of differences over Trump's policies on Syria and other issues. Wilson stepped down in March, the highest level Pentagon departure since that of Mattis, once it became apparent that interim Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan would stay in that post.

Trump nominates a woman as head of US Air Force

The Pentagon has submitted a proposal to Congress that, if approved, would see the creation of a new "Space Force," officials said Friday.

The move comes at the request of President Donald Trump, who has insisted that a separate branch of military is needed to focus on protecting satellites and tackling vulnerabilities in space.

"Our approach follows President Trump's bold vision for space and commits resources to deliver more capability faster, ensuring the United States can compete, deter, and, if needed, win in a complex domain," Acting Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan said.&nbsp;

In its current form, the Space Force would be established as its own branch of the military but would fall under the Air Force, similar to how the Navy oversees the Marine Corps.

Not since the Air Force was stood up in 1947 has the Pentagon created a new military branch&nbsp;Space Force would be the sixth, with the others being the Army, Navy, Marines and Coast Guard.

But the creation of Space Force is by no means a done deal, as it must be vetted and approved by Congress.&nbsp;

Lawmakers and defence officials have reacted with scepticism -- they are wary of the cost, added bureaucracy and duplication of work currently done by the Air Force.

Space plays a vital role in just about every aspect of modern warfare, with many military technologies reliant on a network of orbiting sensors and satellites, and the Pentagon has warned that countries such as Russia and China are working to build anti-satellite capabilities.

The Pentagon has submitted a proposal to Congress that, if approved, would see the creation of a new "Space Force," officials said Friday. The move comes at the request of President Donald Trump, who has insisted that a separate branch of military is needed to focus on protecting satellites and tackling vulnerabilities in space.

The Pentagon has submitted a proposal to Congress that, if approved, would see the creation of a new "Space Force," officials said Friday. The move comes at the request of President Donald Trump, who has insisted that a separate branch of military is needed to focus on protecting satellites and tackling vulnerabilities in space. "Our approach follows President Trump's bold vision for space and commits resources to deliver more capability faster, ensuring the United States can compete, deter, and, if needed, win in a complex domain," Acting Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan said. In its current form, the Space Force would be established as its own branch of the military but would fall under the Air Force, similar to how the Navy oversees the Marine Corps. Not since the Air Force was stood up in 1947 has the Pentagon created a new military branch Space Force would be the sixth, with the others being the Army, Navy, Marines and Coast Guard. But the creation of Space Force is by no means a done deal, as it must be vetted and approved by Congress. Lawmakers and defence officials have reacted with scepticism -- they are wary of the cost, added bureaucracy and duplication of work currently done by the Air Force. Space plays a vital role in just about every aspect of modern warfare, with many military technologies reliant on a network of orbiting sensors and satellites, and the Pentagon has warned that countries such as Russia and China are working to build anti-satellite capabilities.

Pentagon submits Space Force proposal to Congress

The US Justice Department charged a former Air Force intelligence official Wednesday with spying for Iran, saying she exposed a fellow US agent and helped the Revolutionary Guard target her former colleagues for cyber attacks.&nbsp;

US officials said Monica Witt, who worked for years in US Air Force counterintelligence, had an "ideological" turn against her country and defected in 2013, turning over information on US intelligence operations against Tehran.

"It is a sad day for America when one of its citizens betrays our country," said Assistant Attorney General John Demers, announcing the indictment.

"This case underscores the dangers to our intelligence professionals and the lengths our adversaries will go to identify them, expose them, target them, and, in a few rare cases, ultimately turn them against the nation they swore to protect," he said.

The US also indicted four Iranians working for the Revolutionary Guard who, using information Witt provided them, targeted her former colleagues in US intelligence with malware and other hacking tools in hopes of accessing their computer networks.

The Justice Department has issued arrest warrants for Witt and the four Iranians, who all remain at large.&nbsp;

Witt served in the US Air Force from 1997 to 2008, becoming a special agent in the Air Force Office of Special Investigations, its counterintelligence unit.

After leaving the Air Force, she worked as a defence and intelligence contractor, but by 2012 her politics had begun to turn.

That year she travelled to Iran to attend an anti-America conference sponsored by the Revolutionary Guard-related New Horizon Organization.

She returned to Iran the next year and began disclosing classified information to Iranian officials, including on her former colleagues in the US intelligence community.

She revealed to the Iranians a "highly classified intelligence collection program" as well as the true identity of a US intelligence officer, Demers said.

According to an undated FBI missing persons declaration regarding Witt, she had not been in contact with anyone since 2013.

The announcement, which also included sanctions on the New Horizon Organization, organization officials, and a company tied to the hacking effort, came on the opening day of a US-led international conference in Warsaw, Poland aimed at boosting pressure on Tehran.

The US Justice Department charged a former Air Force intelligence official Wednesday with spying for Iran, saying she exposed a fellow US agent and helped the Revolutionary Guard target her former colleagues for cyber attacks.

The US Justice Department charged a former Air Force intelligence official Wednesday with spying for Iran, saying she exposed a fellow US agent and helped the Revolutionary Guard target her former colleagues for cyber attacks. US officials said Monica Witt, who worked for years in US Air Force counterintelligence, had an "ideological" turn against her country and defected in 2013, turning over information on US intelligence operations against Tehran. "It is a sad day for America when one of its citizens betrays our country," said Assistant Attorney General John Demers, announcing the indictment. "This case underscores the dangers to our intelligence professionals and the lengths our adversaries will go to identify them, expose them, target them, and, in a few rare cases, ultimately turn them against the nation they swore to protect," he said. The US also indicted four Iranians working for the Revolutionary Guard who, using information Witt provided them, targeted her former colleagues in US intelligence with malware and other hacking tools in hopes of accessing their computer networks. The Justice Department has issued arrest warrants for Witt and the four Iranians, who all remain at large. Witt served in the US Air Force from 1997 to 2008, becoming a special agent in the Air Force Office of Special Investigations, its counterintelligence unit. After leaving the Air Force, she worked as a defence and intelligence contractor, but by 2012 her politics had begun to turn. That year she travelled to Iran to attend an anti-America conference sponsored by the Revolutionary Guard-related New Horizon Organization. She returned to Iran the next year and began disclosing classified information to Iranian officials, including on her former colleagues in the US intelligence community. She revealed to the Iranians a "highly classified intelligence collection program" as well as the true identity of a US intelligence officer, Demers said. According to an undated FBI missing persons declaration regarding Witt, she had not been in contact with anyone since 2013. The announcement, which also included sanctions on the New Horizon Organization, organization officials, and a company tied to the hacking effort, came on the opening day of a US-led international conference in Warsaw, Poland aimed at boosting pressure on Tehran.

US charges former Air Force intel agent with spying for Iran

A US Air Force pilot with the traveling Thunderbirds exhibition squad was killed early Wednesday when his F-16 jet crashed at Nellis Air Force base in Nevada, the third crash involving a military aircraft in the past two days.

"It's been a rough day," an Air Force spokesman said.

The pilot was on a training mission flying an F-16 Fighting Falcon over the Nevada Test and Training Range near Las Vegas when it crashed about 10:30 am&nbsplocal time, the spokesman said.

The name of the pilot is being withheld pending notification of the family, the Air Force said in a statement early Thursday, adding that an investigation into the cause of the crash has begun.

The jet was part of the Air Force's Thunderbirds Squadron, a flying team that performs aerial demonstrations across the United States as well as internationally.

The team's upcoming performance at the March Air Force Reserve Base in Riverside County, Ca., on April 7 and April 8, has been cancelled according to the statement.

On Tuesday, a US&nbspMarine Corps helicopter crashed during a training mission in Southern California. All four crew members are believed to have been killed.

Another Marine jet crashed in Djibouti on Tuesday. The pilot was in stable condition. 
&nbsp

The jet was part of the Air Force's Thunderbirds Squadron, a flying team that performs aerial demonstrations across the United States as well as internationally.

A US Air Force pilot with the traveling Thunderbirds exhibition squad was killed early Wednesday when his F-16 jet crashed at Nellis Air Force base in Nevada, the third crash involving a military aircraft in the past two days. "It's been a rough day," an Air Force spokesman said. The pilot was on a training mission flying an F-16 Fighting Falcon over the Nevada Test and Training Range near Las Vegas when it crashed about 10:30 am&nbsplocal time, the spokesman said. The name of the pilot is being withheld pending notification of the family, the Air Force said in a statement early Thursday, adding that an investigation into the cause of the crash has begun. The jet was part of the Air Force's Thunderbirds Squadron, a flying team that performs aerial demonstrations across the United States as well as internationally. The team's upcoming performance at the March Air Force Reserve Base in Riverside County, Ca., on April 7 and April 8, has been cancelled according to the statement. On Tuesday, a US&nbspMarine Corps helicopter crashed during a training mission in Southern California. All four crew members are believed to have been killed. Another Marine jet crashed in Djibouti on Tuesday. The pilot was in stable condition.

US F-16 jet crashes in Nevada, pilot killed

Authorities in the US Navy have opened<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/bin-laden-raid-author-to-forfeit-close-to-7m-from-book-earnings-5247"> an investigation after the mysterious death of an Army Green Beret </a>officer who was allegedly killed by two Navy SEAL Team 6 members in Mali.

On June 4, Staff Sergeant Logan Melgar was found dead in the embassy housing quarters in Mali&#39;s capital Bamako. Melgar&#39;s superiors quickly suspected &quot;foul play&quot; in the death, the New York Times reported.

The &quot;unidentified Navy SEALs&quot; have been placed on administrative leave, the Times said.

No one has been charged in Melgar&#39;s death, even though a military examiner ruled that Melgar&#39;s death occurred due to &quot;a homicide by asphyxiation,&quot; or strangulation, US papers reported.

The Navy Seal Team 6 is the famous counter-terrorism unit which killed al-Qaida chief Osama Bin Laden at Abbottabad, Pakistan in May, 2011.

Investigators are still to find out the motive behind the alleged murder. Neither the Army, Navy nor the military&#39;s Africa Command has issued a statement into Melgar&#39;s death. 
&nbsp;

The "unidentified Navy SEALs" have been placed on administrative leave, the Times said.

Authorities in the US Navy have opened an investigation after the mysterious death of an Army Green Beret officer who was allegedly killed by two Navy SEAL Team 6 members in Mali. On June 4, Staff Sergeant Logan Melgar was found dead in the embassy housing quarters in Mali's capital Bamako. Melgar's superiors quickly suspected "foul play" in the death, the New York Times reported. The "unidentified Navy SEALs" have been placed on administrative leave, the Times said. No one has been charged in Melgar's death, even though a military examiner ruled that Melgar's death occurred due to "a homicide by asphyxiation," or strangulation, US papers reported. The Navy Seal Team 6 is the famous counter-terrorism unit which killed al-Qaida chief Osama Bin Laden at Abbottabad, Pakistan in May, 2011. Investigators are still to find out the motive behind the alleged murder. Neither the Army, Navy nor the military's Africa Command has issued a statement into Melgar's death.

US Navy Seal Team 6 members in murder scandal

The longest serving civilian in US Air Force history, a World War II veteran who fought under General George Patton, will retire in September after 70 years, the military said yesterday. 
 
Anthony Duno, who was drafted into the US Army in 1944 at age 18, participated in the Normandy campaign, the Battle of the Bulge and was assigned to the Nuremberg Trials, the US Air Force said in a profile posted on its website. 
 
&quot;I really believe the Battle of the Bulge was the most important, severe point of the war. It was so extraordinary because so many things happened that had never happened before,&quot; Duno said. 
 
Duno&#39;s 70 years include both military and civil service. 
 
After the war, Duno, a native of the Bronx in New York, became a civilian Air Force employee specialised in reselling US military facilities that were phased out in Europe. 
 
He was honoured on Friday at the Pentagon with a ceremony attended by Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James. 
 
&quot;The Air Force was my life. I will deeply miss all the comrades, all the friends I&#39;ve known,&quot; he said in the profile. 
 
Duno, who keeps a chest filled with mementos from his life, including a Christmas card from Patton, will retire in the northeastern state of New Hampshire. 
 
(AFP)

Anthony Duno, a World War II veteran was drafted into the US Army in 1944, at age 18. His 70 years include both military and civil service

The longest serving civilian in US Air Force history, a World War II veteran who fought under General George Patton, will retire in September after 70 years, the military said yesterday. Anthony Duno, who was drafted into the US Army in 1944 at age 18, participated in the Normandy campaign, the Battle of the Bulge and was assigned to the Nuremberg Trials, the US Air Force said in a profile posted on its website. "I really believe the Battle of the Bulge was the most important, severe point of the war. It was so extraordinary because so many things happened that had never happened before," Duno said. Duno's 70 years include both military and civil service. After the war, Duno, a native of the Bronx in New York, became a civilian Air Force employee specialised in reselling US military facilities that were phased out in Europe. He was honoured on Friday at the Pentagon with a ceremony attended by Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James. "The Air Force was my life. I will deeply miss all the comrades, all the friends I've known," he said in the profile. Duno, who keeps a chest filled with mementos from his life, including a Christmas card from Patton, will retire in the northeastern state of New Hampshire. (AFP)

Longest serving US Air Force civilian to retire after 70 years

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