McConnell Air Force Base News

184th Wing Airman Leads Wildland Fire Suppression Efforts in Western Kansas

1st Lt. Samantha Root — Thu, 05 Mar 2026 20:38:00 GMT

As wildland fires tore across western Kansas in February, Tech. Sgt. Chase Garza, an airman assigned to the 184th Wing, Kansas Air National Guard, deployed as a crew chief to Garden City and Liberal with the Kansas National Guard wildfire task force. This operation highlighted the Guard’s evolving role in domestic emergency response throughout the state of Kansas.

Make Your Mark on McConnell Housing

Pentagon News — Thu, 05 Mar 2026 18:41:49 GMT

McConnell Air Force Base on-base residents have the opportunity to make their voices heard through the 2026 Department of War Tenant Satisfaction Survey.

McConnell Airmen participate in jiu-jitsu combatives

Airman 1st Class Tavian Sims — Wed, 04 Mar 2026 20:09:00 GMT

Master Sgt. Donald Williams, 722nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron first sergeant, practices a

22 ARW rolls out the Red Carpet to announce the best of 2025

Johnny Van Winkle — Fri, 20 Feb 2026 19:56:04 GMT

The 22nd Air Refueling Wing announced its 2025 annual award winners in a ceremony Feb. 19.

Love is in the air — and now it’s landed at McConnell

Senior Airman Paula Arce — Wed, 18 Feb 2026 15:21:14 GMT

Airmen reunite with family and friends at McConnell Air Force Base, Kansas, Feb. 14, 2026. Team

Tanker Talks 2.0 brings resiliency-focused conversations to McConnell

Senior Airman Paula Arce — Wed, 11 Feb 2026 16:50:00 GMT

McConnell Air Force Base hosted an annual resiliency convention at the Dole Center on Feb. 9, bringing Team McConnell together for a morning of group discussions centered on resilience, personal growth, professional development and hands-on activities.

22nd ARW fourth quarter award winners

22nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs — Fri, 30 Jan 2026 22:30:00 GMT

The 22nd Air Refueling Wing recognized the wing’s fourth quarter award winners during an awards ceremony at the Robert J. Dole Community Center ballroom, Jan. 30, 2026.

Snow no mo'

Senior Airman Amelio Brown — Fri, 30 Jan 2026 20:33:07 GMT

Snowfall accumulates at McConnell Air Force Base, Kansas, Jan. 24, 2026. Road conditions continued

McConnell remembers former 22 OG commander Col. Thad R. Middleton

Senior Airman Paula Arce — Thu, 29 Jan 2026 17:00:40 GMT

A pioneer of the KC-46 Enterprise will be laid to rest Jan. 30, 2026 at the U.S. Air Force Academy Cemetery in Colorado.

Kansas, Idaho Air National Guard TACPs Conduct Joint Close Air Support Training

1st Lt. Samantha Root — Wed, 28 Jan 2026 21:28:00 GMT

Amid the unforgiving buttes of Idaho, Tactical Air Control Party Airmen from the 284th Air Support Operations Squadron traveled from Kansas to execute close air support training with their counterparts from the 124th ASOS. The joint exercise, held Dec. 16-19, 2025, at Saylor Creek Bombing Range, involved A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft from the 124th Fighter Wing, Idaho Air National Guard. The exercise was designed to enhance the joint capabilities of the Air National Guard units and provide realistic combat scenarios for the TACPs.

McConnell AFB Tax Center Returns for 2026 Season

Airman 1st Class Patrick O’Neill — Wed, 21 Jan 2026 21:12:27 GMT

The McConnell Air Force Base Tax Center is offering free tax services for the 2026 tax season.

An icon of airpower takes final bow: Ethel’s fini flight

Senior Airman Paula Arce — Tue, 20 Jan 2026 19:24:43 GMT

MCCONNELL AIR FORCE BASE, Kan. – After more than six decades of service, “Ethel,” a KC-135R/T Stratotanker, was officially retired, closing a chapter that began in 1959 during the Cold War era.

22nd ARW commences 2026 honorary commander ceremony

Senior Airman Amelio Brown — Thu, 15 Jan 2026 16:40:00 GMT

The 22nd Air Refueling Wing honors 16 civic leaders as they are inducted into the 2026 Honorary Commander program on January 9, 2026 at McConnell Air Force Base, Kansas.

22nd ARW commences 2026 honorary commander ceremony

Senior Airman Amelio Brown — Thu, 15 Jan 2026 15:56:30 GMT

The 22nd Air Refueling Wing honors 16 civic leaders as they are inducted into the 2026 Honorary Commander program on January 9, 2026 at McConnell Air Force Base, Kansas.

184th Wing Selected to Support Air Combat Command's Point Defense Battle Lab

1st Lt. Samantha Root — Fri, 09 Jan 2026 18:35:00 GMT

The 184th Wing has been selected to support Air Combat Command’s newly established Point Defense Battle Lab. The 184th Wing will support the 319th Reconnaissance Wing, Grand Forks Air Force Base, North Dakota, who will serve as the lead organization.

Connect to care: A one stop shop

Senior Airman Amelio Brown — Thu, 08 Jan 2026 16:12:00 GMT

McConnell Air Force Base opens up a new Connect to Care facility, located in building 795, which will provide Airmen with a “no wrong door” approach when it comes to seeking support from base helping agencies.

Air Installations Use & Compatibility Open House set for January 13

Johnny Van Winkle — Mon, 05 Jan 2026 20:10:00 GMT

McConnell Air Force Base will hold an open house January 13, 4-6 p.m., in downtown Wichita, for the public release of the 2025 Air Installations Compatible Use Zones (AICUZ) Study for the base.

Drones on duty: McConnell leads in AMC integration

Senior Airman Paula Arce — Mon, 05 Jan 2026 17:53:00 GMT

MCCONNELL AIR FORCE BASE, Kan. — McConnell continues to expand its operational capabilities with the development and integration of small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (sUAS), or drones, an initiative that now supports a variety of mission sets.

McConnell fuels team proves multicapable

Airman 1st Class Patrick O'Neill — Mon, 15 Dec 2025 21:25:13 GMT

22nd Air Refueling Wing Airmen conduct a thorough medical assessment on a simulated casualty after a

The KC-46 – A story of hope, in the airs of Pope

Airman 1st Class Patrick ONeill — Thu, 11 Dec 2025 16:06:37 GMT

Team McConnell steps into a pivotal training event, sending its Airmen and aircraft to participate in Battalion Mass Tactical Week. This iteration of BMTW marks a significant moment for the entire Air Mobility Command enterprise, providing a complex, real-world scenario – an opportunity for McConnell's 344th Air Refueling Squadron to complete its certification phase in the Air Force Generation (AFFORGEN) cycle.