Active Force Support
Illustrating the many creative and innovative ways PAs find to tell
the Air Force story, 48th Fighter Wing Public Affairs photojournalist,
Tech. Sgt. Matthew Plew, pictured above, documented three F-15s in
aerial maneuvers over southern England - bringing a new dimension to
the meaning of the word "selfie" in the process!
Unique contributions like this to the Air Force mission are why
AFPAA's primary focus is to provide recognition and support of the
active force in whatever way we can. It's why we...
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Offer free two-year introductory memberships in AFPAA to active duty
PAs.
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Sponsor the
"Best of the Best" award for the
top performer in USAF Public Affairs.
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Provide up to four stipends of $250 each per fiscal year to Air
Force personnel who successfully complete accreditation by the
Public Relations Society of America
(PRSA) or certification by the
International Association of Business Communicators, helping to reduce the costs incurred in applying for these
credentials. To learn more, and how to apply,
go to the Professional Credentials page.
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Make available as many as five Dalton Scholarships of up to $1,000
each per year to assist members of Air Force Public Affairs who are
pursuing professional educational opportunities in any of the career
field's specialities — Band, Broadcasting, Visual Information
/ Combat Camera, and Public Affairs. To learn more, and how to
apply,
go to the Dalton Scholarship page.
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Present every USAF DINFOS Graduate with a PA Career Field Badge.
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Offer mentoring and other behind-the-scenes support when asked.
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Provide speakers, panelists, and judges for USAF competitions when
asked.
Learn From Legends
To help preserve our heritage, the AFPAA Oral History Program
accumulates and preserves first-person historical accounts of Air
Force, national, and international public affairs events and
activities, like 1973's Operation Homecoming, when then Lt. Col. Dick
Abel made five trips to Hanoi to escort POWs as they were released
from North Vietnamese prisons.
Over thirty legends in the field of public affairs have participated
in this on-going project, sharing their stories, insights, and advice,
providing tremendous value to today's communicators.
Learn more from these PA pros here.
Annual Reunion and Membership Meeting
For many AFPAA members, the highlight of the year is the Association's
annual membership meeting.
Held at a different location each year, this three day event is a
great opportunity to renew friendships and make new ones. At least one
day is dedicated to briefings and tours of active duty installations,
major contractor facilities, and museums. For AFPAA members who have
retired or separated from active service, these "reblueing sessions"
help them keep up with the changing capabilities and evolving missions
of today's Air Force.
To accomodate member interest in holding the meeting in the spring and
not the fall as had been the case recently, the board of directors
decided to delay what would have been a fall 2025 meeting to the
spring of 2026. The meeting will be held in Fairfield, California, the
home of Travis AFB. The tentative dates for the meeting are April 30
— May 2, 2026. Stay tuned for more details on the plans for the
Fairfield meeting as they become available, including the schedule of
events, how to register, and where we’re staying.
With the exception of the pandemic years of 2020, 2021, and 2022,
AFPAA has held an annual meeting every year since 1994. Here's where
the meetings have taken place:
Transition Support
Leaving active duty may feel like jumping out of a perfectly good
airplane into the great unknown, but AFPAA is here to help, providing
assistance to members transitioning to the civilian world and seeking
employment by offering...
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Access to a network of public relations professionals who both
appreciate the special talents of Air Force PA's and understand the
unique challenges they face, and can provide advice and potential
leads to those entering the civilian job market.
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An active
Facebook group, where members can engage in discussions about Public Affairs
issues, and where potential employers and job seekers can make
contact.
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The "Tips for Transition" booklet, containing helpful suggestions
about career changes gleaned from members' real life experiences.
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"So You're Looking for Another Job," an extensive compendium of
employment marketing techniques authored by AFPAA member Charlie
Brown, whose post-AF career has been as a corporate head hunter and
career counselor.
Awards Program
AFPAA celebrates the achievements of professionals - active, retired,
civilian, and community leaders - through its prestigious awards
program...
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We recognize individuals - members or not - for unique or trail
blazing PA accomplishments as "public affairs pioneers" through our
annual President's Award program.
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We recognize members who have provided extraordinary service to the
Association with our highest honor, the
Mike McRaney Distinguished Service Award.
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In cooperation with SAF/PA, we sponsor the annual
Brig. Gen. James W. Hart, Jr. Best of the Best Award. The Best of the Best program recognizes one outstanding
individual from all nominated bandsmen, broadcasters, multimedia,
and public affairs professionals. The winner receives an engraved
trophy and $1,000 from AFPAA.
Special Projects
The Association also undertakes special projects like...
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The Brigadier General H.J. Dalton Jr. Conference Room
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The Secretary of the Air Force Office of Public Affairs (SAF/PA)
conference room was named for Gen. Dalton to honor the many
achievements of his distinguished career, including becoming the
first public affairs officer to attain the rank of brigadier
general.
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The AFPAA Board of Directors proposed naming the conference room
in Gen. Dalton's honor, and the idea was enthusiastically
embraced by SAF/PA. Part of a larger renovation project that
consolidated SAF/PA offices in the Pentagon, the cost of the
conference room's construction, furnishings, and decoration was
offset by a contribution from AFPAA.
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The USAF Public Affairs Hall of Fame
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The Hall of Fame provides prestigious recognition of those who
made significant and lasting contributions to the history and
traditions of the Air Force Public Affairs career field.
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The Hall of Fame was established on July 1, 2021 and is
online here.
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AFPAA is currently working with SAF/PA on plans for the Hall of
Fame's permanent physical location at the Defense Information
School at Fort Meade, Maryland
