Skip to main content (Press Enter).
U.S. Air Force Logo
  • Home
  • News
    • Commentaries
    • Features
    • Press Releases
    • Photos
  • About Us
    • Leadership
    • Mission and Organization
  • Units
    • Third Air Force
    • 406th Air Expeditionary Wing
      • News and Articles
      • 406th AEW Sexual Misconduct Disciplinary Actions
      • Contact 406th AEW
    • Kisling NCO Academy
    • USAFE-AFAFRICA Warfare Center
      • Combat Training School
      • Inter-European Air Force Academy
      • 5th Combat Training Squadron
      • 4th Combat Training Squadron
      • UAWC Communication Squadron
      • 19th Electronic Warfare Squadron
      • USAFE-AFAFRICA A3X Warfare Division
    • Association of African Air Forces
    • 603rd Air Operations Center
  • Aerial Events
  • Operation GRIT
  • Contact Us
  • Operational Focus Areas
U.S. Air Force Logo U.S. Air Forces in Europe - Air Forces Africa
  • DAF Executive Order Implementation
  • Engagement Request
  • CFC
  • Leadership
  • Mission
  • SAPR

  • Clear Sky 2018 final ceremony

    181019-F-GT247-0001

    Clear Sky 2018 concluded today with a ceremony at Starokostiantyniv Air Base, Ukraine. The 12-day exercise was the first U.S. Air Forces in Europe-sponsored air-centric regional security exercise of its kind in Ukraine. The exercise was overall deemed a success by leadership for advances in interoperability between U.S., Ukrainian and partner-nation forces. “We are better, faster, stronger, smarter, and closer than we were just two weeks ago,” Maj. Gen. Clay Garrison, California Air National Guard commander and Clear Sky exercise director told airmen from the U.S., Ukraine and other partner nations gathered at the ceremony. “This is due to your hard work and dedication to the mission, and it has been spectacular.”

    Photo Details / Download Hi-Res
  • Clear Sky 2018 closing ceremony

    Clear Sky closing ceremony celebrates accomplishments, honors sacrifice

    Airmen from the 144th Fighter Wing, California Air National Guard, salute during closing the closing ceremony for Clear Sky 2018 at Starokostiantyniv Air Base, Ukraine, Oct. 19, 2018. Approximately 950 participants from nine nations took part in the exercise, which focused primarily on command and control, air sovereignty, air mobility, personnel recovery, air-to-ground operations and cyber defense.

    Photo Details / Download Hi-Res
  • Clear Sky 2018 closing ceremony

    181019-F-GT247-0002

    Maj. Gen. Clay Garrison, California Air National Guard commander and Clear Sky exercise director, shakes hands with his Ukrainian counterpart, Maj. Gen. Andrii Yaretskyi, following the closing ceremony for Clear Sky, Oct. 19, 2018. The exercise brought together servicemembers and assets from nine nations, to include Ukraine, Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, the United Kingdom and the United States, enhancing interoperability and regional security.

    Photo Details / Download Hi-Res
  • Clear Sky 2018 final ceremony

    181019-F-GT247-0004

    U.S. and Ukrainian pilots embrace following the closing ceremony for Clear Sky 2018 at Starokostiantyniv Air Base, Ukraine, Oct. 19, 2018. Both sides suffered tragedy during the exercise, as a training accident claimed the lives of one U.S. pilot, Lt. Col. Seth “Jethro” Nehring, and one Ukrainian pilot, Col. Ivan Petrenko. Both were killed when the SU-27 Petrenko was flying with Nehring in the back seat on a routine familiarization training flight crashed on Oct. 16. “While we speak different languages, we are tightly bound together through shared values, such as friendship, family and freedom,” said Maj. Gen. Clay Garrison, California Air National Guard commander and Clear Sky exercise director. “Although our planes and people will depart over the next few days, and although we’ve been mourning together the last few days, we want you to know that our hearts will remain in Ukraine forever.”

    Photo Details / Download Hi-Res

    Clear Sky closing ceremony celebrates accomplishments, honors sacrifice

    • Published Oct. 19, 2018
    • USAFE-AFAFRICA Public Affairs
    Clear Sky Ukraine "Air Force exercise

    • Contact Us
    • Equal Opportunity
    • FOIA | Privacy | Section 508
    • Inspector General
    • JAG Court-Martial Docket
    • Link Disclaimer
    • No FEAR Act
    • OSI Tip Line
    • Questions
    • Resilience
    • Site Map
    • Veterans Crisis Line

    • Join the Air Force
    • Air Force Benefits
    • Air Force Careers
    • Air Force Reserve
    • Air National Guard
    • Civilian Service

    Connect

    U.S. Air Force Logo Official United States Air Force Website
    Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil