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Around the Air Force

  • Retired Maj. Gen. Alfred K. Flowers, Sr. (left), the longest-serving Airman, stands next to his son, Brig. Gen. Alfred K. Flowers, Jr., Air Force Medical Service Manpower, Personnel and Resources director, during Flowers, Jr.’s promotion ceremony at the Air Force Memorial in Arlington, Va., Sept. 7, 2021.

    Growing the Flowers family business: Longest-serving Airman promotes son to brigadier general

    On September 7, Flowers, Jr. was pinned with his current rank by retired Maj. Gen. Alfred K. Flowers, Sr., who is the longest-serving Airman in U.S. Air Force history.
  • PMO leaders view construction model

    AFCEC, USACE partnership essential to delivering Installation of the Future

    Prior to Hurricane Michael’s direct hit to Tyndall Air Force Base, Oct. 10, 2018, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers assisted the Air Force Civil Engineer Center with two to four new military construction projects per year at the Florida base, ranging from $1.6 to $17.8 million. After 2018, that number multiplied more than tenfold when AFCEC turned to USACE to help with the challenge of rebuilding the base.

  • Department of the Air Force leaders discuss second disparity review during virtual town hall

    The second Inspector General Independent Racial Disparity Review focused on gender and ethnicity, and included additional racial groups (Hispanics, Latinos, Asians, American Indians, Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders).
  • Hispanic Empowerment and Advancement Team logo.

    DAF Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: The HEAT is on

    The Hispanic Empowerment and Advancement Team, a specialized Department of the Air Force Barrier Analysis Working Group, was chartered to review and analyze guidelines, programs, data and other information for barriers to employment, advancement, and retention of Hispanic employees and applicants, and military members.
  • Flight Officer (F/O) William (NMI) Gorman, T-223063, poses for a picture in the cockpit of a Republic P-47D Thunderbolt fighter. Note his right hand rests atop the rear-view mirror on the windscreen of this “Razorback” version of the P-47. (The Story of the 371st Fighter Group in the ETO)

    P-47 pilot honored on POW/MIA recognition day

    Southward from Advanced Landing Ground A-6 near Sainte-Mère-Église, Normandy, France, the P-47 Thunderbolt fighters pilots flew. Two months after D-Day, they were on a summer evening armed reconnaissance mission which took them to the St. Nazaire area, still occupied by Nazi forces. But before they found an enemy target to strike, the enemy struck them.
  • A C-130J Super Hercules flown by the 815th Airlift Squadron, Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi, departs while an A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft flown by the 354th Fighter Squadron, Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona, arrives at Rifle Garfiield County Airport, Colorado, Sept. 15, 2021. Active-duty Air Force, Air National Guard and Reserve Citizen Airmen gathered at the airfield to take part in the 22nd Air Force’s flagship exercise Rally in the Rockies Sept. 12-17, 2021. The exercise is designed to develop Airmen for combat operations by challenging them with realistic scenarios that support a full spectrum of operations during military actions, operations or hostile environments.

    Airmen hone expeditionary skills at Rally in Rockies exercise

    Active duty, Air National Guard and Reserve Airmen gathered in Colorado and Wyoming for 22nd Air Force’s flagship exercise Rally in the Rockies Sept. 12-17. The exercise is designed to develop Airmen for combat operations by challenging them with realistic scenarios that support a full spectrum of operations during military actions, operations or in hostile environments.
  • Senior Airman Alexis Hill, left, the youngest Airman present, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. CQ Brown Jr., Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall, Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force JoAnne S. Bass and Gen. John E. Hyten, vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, cut the cake during the Air Force’s 74th birthday celebration at the Pentagon in Arlington, Va., Sept. 17, 2021. (U.S. Air Force photo by Eric Dietrich)

    AF Week in Photos

    This week's photos feature Airmen from around the globe involved in activities supporting expeditionary operations and defending America. This weekly feature showcases the men and women of the Air Force.
  • Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. CQ Brown, Jr. presents five new additions to the CSAF Leadership Library. (U.S. Air Force graphic)

    CSAF Leadership Library: September 2021

    Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. CQ Brown, Jr. presents five new additions to the CSAF Leadership Library: "All Blood Runs Red: The Legendary Life of Eugene Bullard-Boxer, Pilot, Soldier, Spy," "Challenger: The Final Flight", "A Short History of Russia: How the World’s Largest Country Invented Itself, From The Pagans to Putin", "Laying the Foundation – Competition With China" and "Freakonomics Radio – Ep. 233 – How to be Less Terrible at Predicting the Future".

  • Around the Air Force: Disparity Review II, Pacific Air Chiefs Symposium, Doolittle Raider Honored

    Today’s look Around the Air Force highlights the latest updates on the Air Force’s racial disparity review, a meeting of top leaders to bolster regional stability in the Indo-Pacific region, and honoring the last of the Doolittle Raiders. (Hosted by Staff Sgt. Jevon Smith)
  • As an outcome of the 101st Air Force uniform board, Air Force women will be able to wear their hair in up to two braids or a single ponytail with bulk not exceeding the width of the head and length not extending below a horizontal line running between the top of each sleeve inseam at the under arm through the shoulder blades. In addition, women’s bangs may now touch their eyebrows, but not cover their eyes. These new changes will be effective upon publication of the new standards in Air Force Instruction 36-2903, Feb. 10, 2021.

    Air Force Women’s Initiative Team champions women’s health care

    In the past year, the WIT’s Female-Specialized Health Care Programs have driven several policy changes. In February, hair standard policies were changed based on feedback received from Airmen who identified numerous health concerns around the bun.
  • U.S. Air Force Special Tactics operator prepares to hand off an injured patient after an emergency medical evacuation in the western part of Haiti. Special Tactics Airmen responded to a request to augment Joint Task Force-Haiti relief efforts after a 7.2 magnitude earthquake hit the country Aug. 14, 2021.

    Answering the call: Special tactics Airmen conclude Haiti earthquake relief efforts

    The special tactics Airmen were alerted on the morning of Aug. 16 that they would augment Joint Task Force-Haiti relief efforts. With the help of C-146A Wolfhound aircrews, assigned to the 492nd and 919th Special Operations Wings, the team touched down in Port Au Prince, Haiti, within 36 hours.
  • COMUSAFE hosts Arctic Air Chiefs Symposium

    COMUSAFE hosts Arctic Air Chiefs Symposium

    The conference hosted senior defense representatives from seven of the eight Arctic nations, including Canada, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, and the U.S. to discuss a variety of Arctic-focused campaigns and initiatives.
  • Col. Aaron Gibney, 505th Combat Training Group commander (bottom center) welcomes Vice Chief of Staff of the U.S. Air Force Gen. David Allvin (middle center) to the Howard Hughes Operations, or H2O, facility in downtown Las Vegas, Nev., Aug. 28, 2021. The Shadow Operations Center-Nellis, or ShOC-N, is Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. CQ Brown, Jr.’s designated primary Joint All-Domain Command and Control (JADC2) Battlelab for information gathering and disseminations and application testing and development.

    VCSAF visits the SHOC-N Battlelab

    Howard Hughes Operations is part of the 805th Combat Training Squadron’s Shadow Operations Center-Nellis, or ShOC-N. ShOC-N is the Air Force’s primary Advanced Battle Management System Battlelab for experimentation and incubation of new command and control technologies and development of C2 tactics, techniques, and procedures enabling multi-echelon, multi-domain battle management.
  • BG Roman Urbanč, deputy chief of the general staff of the Slovenian armed forces, speaks with U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Jason E. Bailey, 31st Fighter Wing commander, middle, and U.S. Air Force Gen. Jeff Harrigian, U.S. Air Forces in Europe and Air Forces Africa commander, left, at Cerklje ob Krki Air Base, Slovenia, Sept. 9, 2021. The visit highlighted bilateral operations and interoperability between U.S. and Slovenian Armed Forces in support of the NATO Agile Combat Employment concept. The ACE concept is intended to ensure USAFE-AFAFRICA forces are ready for potential threats and contingencies by enabling forces to quickly disperse and continue to deliver air power from locations with varying levels of capacity and support.

    US, Slovenian armed forces partner in bilateral exercise

    U.S. Air Force and Slovenian armed forces leaders came together to discuss the importance of a strong U.S.-Slovenian partnership for Agile Combat Employment, an operating concept intended to ensure USAFE-AFAFRICA forces are prepared to respond to potential threats by enabling forces to quickly disperse and deliver airpower from remote or austere locations.
  • A C-130 with a large orange 8 on the tail takes off from a runway with a mountain range in the background.

    Reserve C-130 aerial firefighting teams fly during second busiest wildfire season

    Since first being activated July 20, the 302 AW has been working together with other military aircraft from Nevada Air National Guard’s 152nd AW, Wyoming ANG’s 153rd AW, and California ANG’s 146th AW to drop millions of gallons of fire retardant in support of fire suppression efforts in California.
  • Under Secretary of the Air Force, Gina Ortiz Jones leads a discussion with wing leaders about the mandatory COVID vaccination efforts, Sept. 11, 2021, at Joint Base Andrews, Md. The USecAF wants to determine any limiting factors in the execution of the timeline, concerns voiced from members of the units, use of medical or religious exemptions, and best practices of communicating the safety and effectiveness of the vaccine, and show support for the units overall readiness efforts. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Cierra Presentado/Released)

    Under Secretary of the Air Force talks mandatory COVID vaccination efforts with Air Force Reserve

    The under secretary’s purpose for the short trip to JB Andrews was to meet with the AFR and have an open, face-to-face discussion on the mandatory COVID vaccination efforts and learn what the Reserve needs at the secretary level to make this initiative successful.
  • A Turkish KC-135R Stratotanker taxis on the runway at Field Aerospace, Oklahoma City, Okla. The aircraft recently received the Block 45 modification which completely remodeled the inside of the aircraft’s flight deck, with new liquid crystal displays, radio altimeter, computer module updates, autopilot, and a digital flight director, replacing approximately 63 parts to include analog instruments which are considered high-maintenance or obsolete altogether.

    Directorate leads KC-135 upgrade for Turkish Air Force

    The upgrade, termed “Block 45,” completely remodeled the inside of the Turkish KC-135R Stratotanker’s flight deck, with new liquid crystal displays, radio altimeter, computer module updates, autopilot, and a digital flight director, replacing approximately 63 parts to include analog instruments which are considered high-maintenance or obsolete altogether.

  • Air Force update for COVID-19

    Below are current coronavirus disease 2019 statistics for Department of Air Force personnel:
  • DEI logo

    AFMC continues implementation of diversity, inclusion initiatives

    The Air Force Materiel Command continues to make progress on a number of diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives across the command as it leads the Air Force in ensuring all Airmen, uniform and non-uniform, have the right environment, resources and support they need to thrive and succeed.
  • This Air Force Foundational Competencies Digital Literacy graphic defines digital literacy as a person who “uses technology to identify, critically evaluate and synthesize data and information; explore, create and manage digital content; and appropriately interact in a virtual environment” according to Dr. Laura Barron, industrial/organizational psychologist.

    Foundational Competencies: Digital Literacy

    These competencies are universally applicable to all Airmen and are categorized into four groups: Developing Self, Developing Others, Developing Ideas and Developing Organizations. One of those 24 foundational competencies is digital literacy, which was added this year.
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