Trying to catch up on Air Force news?
You can also check out the links below to see just some of the many resources available to learn more about your Air Force.
On April 9, 2024, SAF/PA Director Mr. Jerry Renne sent the following good news to the PA family:
Today the Air Force announced the results of the CY23 Air Force brigadier general promotion board, and I could not be happier to announce the selection of Colonel Allen Herritage, SAF/PA’s principal deputy director!
From his initial assignments at Nellis, Langley and Seymour-Johnson, to being forged in the fire on multiple deployments and as PA advisor to the Air Force Chief of Staff, to leading PA ops at Alaskan Command and at USAFA, Colonel Herritage has earned a reputation as an outstanding leader and stellar PA.
A graduated combat camera squadron commander, he led Air Combat Command PA before serving as the mission support group commander at the 633d Mission Support Group at Joint Base Langley-Eustis before returning to the Pentagon in 2022.
Col Herritage, our entire team joins me in congratulating you on this well-deserved recognition of your tremendous leadership, exceptional performance, and consummate professionalism. It is also a strong message reflecting our senior leaders’ confidence in your ability to take on our Department’s toughest challenges.
Without a doubt, our entire team is proud of you and salutes your achievement as we express gratitude for all you do for our Air Force and Space Force and our career field every day!
What a great day to be an Airman and Guardian!
VR // Jerry
Jerry Renne, SES, DAF
Director, Public Affairs
Department of the Air Force
May 3, 2024 — In this week’s look around the Air Force, Airmen can now submit applications to become warrant officers in information technology and cyber career fields, two industry partners are awarded contracts under the Collaborative Combat Aircraft program, and the Five & Thrive initiatives expand to include Reservists and their families.
April 26, 2024 — In this week’s look around the Air Force, Chief of Staff of the Air Force General David Allvin pens a letter to Airmen detailing how the service is following through on planned efforts, service-wide lodging updates are under way improving guest experiences, and the Space Force unveils a new Commercial Space Strategy increasing collaboration with space industries.
April 19, 2024 — In this week’s look around the Air Force, senior leaders testify to a Senate subcommittee about the fiscal year 2025 budget, and a new Mental Health Overview outlines resources for Airmen and Guardians.
April 12, 2024 — In this week’s look around the Air Force, a new incentive pay is approved for cold weather assignments, F-16 Fighting Falcons become the next testbed platform for autonomous capabilities, and 5th-generation aircraft join Cope Tiger 2024 for the first time.
April 5, 2024 — In this week’s look around the Air Force, an innovative cooling system combats heat stress for warfighters, the “Where Airmen and Guardians Get Information” survey goes out to thousands of Department of the Air Force employees, and an autonomous response system is tested for command and control of unmanned vehicles.
March 29, 2024 — In this week’s look around the Air Force, senior enlisted advisors from the Air Force and Space Force testify to Congress on the importance of quality-of-life initiatives, medical experts discuss the well-being of service members and the role of lifestyle medicine on Great Power Competition, and an IT solution to enable government applications and websites from any device.
March 25, 2024 — In this week’s look around the Air Force, the rebranded Commander’s Key Support Program expands opportunities for service members and their families, the Space Force rolls out their new Physical Training Uniform, and NASA opens applications for its Astronaut Selection Program.
March 18, 2024 — In this week’s look around the Air Force, the 20th Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force assumes his new role, the DoD Housing Survey is out, and Maryland’s Air National Guard takes on a new cyber mission.
March 8, 2024 — In this week’s look around the Air Force, Chief of Staff General David Allvin talks about reoptimizing the Air Force for Great Power Competition during a talk at the Brookings Institution in Washington, D.C., the Air Force releases updates and clarifications to dress and appearance standards, and a proof-of-concept launch and landing of an MQ-9 Reaper via satellite makes history at Shaw AFB, S.C.
March 1, 2024 — This week’s look around the Air Force highlights the PACAF and USAFE-AFAFRICA commanders talking about their areas of focus as the Department of the Air Force reoptimizes for Great Power Competition, and modernized promotion testing aims to develop Airmen for the future fight.
Everyone’s journey to becoming an Airman looks a little different. Follow five trainees as they go through the eight weeks of Basic Military Training and embark on their journey in the United States Air Force.
"BASIC: Journey to Airman" is an eight part documentary series presented by Air Force Recruiting Service and produced by the 3rd Audiovisual Squadron. Except for the short introductory teaser, each chapter — one for each the eight weeks of basic training — runs approximately 45 minutes. For a great reminder of what you may vividly remember (or want to forget!) and an update of what's new and different, taking the time to view this outstanding production is definitely worth it.
From SAF/PA and AFNS -- In commemoration of the 75th anniversary of
World War II, the U.S. Air Force video production team produced an
Emmy® Award winning video series to highlight the Tuskegee Airmen
and their impact on the war, and society as a whole.
“The Red Tail Angels” documentary series showcases the hardships,
struggles and ultimately the successes of the Tuskegee Airmen.
“The Tuskegee Airmen represent a part of American history, which for
far too many years languished in obscurity after WWII,” said Anthony
Young, Air Force Television senior producer. “This documentary is an
attempt to tell their story through the words of those who lived it,
highlighting not only the obstacles they faced, but the perseverance
they exhibited in overcoming it. Though they have been revered for
their exploits during the war, I think their legacy is evident not
only throughout the U.S. armed forces, but within society as a whole,
given the many doors their success has led to the opening of.”
With a salute to the Tuskegee Airmen for their sacrifice and courage,
and a well done to the Air Force Television team for their Emmy®
winning work telling the story of these brave men, AFPAA is pleased
to present all three episodes of "Red Tail Angels" here. Each epidode
runs between 24 to 30 minutes in length.
Episode 1 ...
Episode 2 ...
Episode 3 ...
Capitalizing on the box office success of the movie Top Gun: Maverick, the Air Force released a recruiting commercial sure to attract attention and the interest of potential recruits. The Air Force said that the "heart-pounding, adrenaline inducing ad gives the audience a sense of what it might feel like to be on the receiving end of the Air Force’s might and accentuates the importance of airpower in America’s security."
“The intensity of this spot is stunning so hold on to your popcorn because we are bringing the Air Force to your seat,” said Maj Gen Ed Thomas, Air Force Recruiting Service commander and former SAF/PA director. “We want to get Americans excited about what it means to serve this great nation. There are more than 130 career options an Airman can take on their full or part-time journey to defend our skies. The air superiority in this video just gives you a glimpse of a small percentage of what is possible when you join us.”
Fasten your seat belt before clicking the play button...
The social media world of today may be quite different from the
information environment that many retired AFPAA members dealt with
when they were on active duty, but it hasn't changed the continuing
challenge of determining how best to communicate with a target
audience.
SAF/PA understands this, and in 2019 and 2020 they conducted a study
to learn more about the information needs of Air Force and Space Force
military and civilian personnel, and the sources they turn to for that
information.
The study was conducted in two phases: an initial survey designed to
learn from a representative sample of the Total Force and provide
generalizable results, and a follow on program of focus group sessions
to provide instructive, though not necessarily generalizable, insights
into the information environment of today's Air Force and Space Force.
SAF/PA has kindly made this interesting study available to AFPAA
members. You can read the
briefing slides for the study, called Where Airmen Get Information,
here.
(Please note that the first ten slides may seem somewhat repetitive.
They contain the introductory slides for two different audiences -
unit leaders and PA professionals.)
“Rebels to Reels” is the fascinating true-life story of Dan McGovern, the US Army Air Forces Combat Cameraman who filmed in Hiroshima and Nagasaki only weeks after devastating atomic bombs were dropped on those Japanese cities. This three-part, 450 page, highly researched biography contains numerous accounts of interest to any PA or military history buff, including how the definitive footage of the atomic aftermath we have today was shot, and the efforts of McGovern to save that footage for posterity.
To say McGovern lived an eventful life would certainly be an understatement. After the Irish-born cameraman joined the Army Air Forces, he set up the First Motion Picture Unit (FMPU) Combat Camera school in California and trained World War II’s first cadre of USAAF cameramen before deploying to England himself, where he flew and filmed B-17 missions. After Europe, it was on to his amazing experiences in Japan, and a remarkable post-war career.
Written by Joseph McCabe, who grew up in the same small town in Ireland as McGovern, “Rebels to Reels” was published to coincide with the 80th anniversary of the establishment of the Eighth Air Force and the 75th anniversary of the formation of the US Air Force. Dedicated to Combat Camera men and women past, present, and future, the book provides fascinating insights into how combat footage is and was filmed, the Eighth Air Force, World War II, and how the US Air Force of today came into being.
You can learn more about the book, and the life and career of Combat Cameraman Dan McGovern it chronicles, on the book’s companion website, which also contains video of some great combat footage. The book is available for purchase there, or on Amazon.
From: AF News Service
By: Charles Pope
Secretary of the Air Force
Office of Public Affairs
May 29, 2020
All stanzas of the Air Force song have been updated to better capture
and represent the valor and heritage of the 73-year-old service while
also recognizing the diversity and contributions of today’s Total
Force regardless of gender.
The announcement by Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David L. Goldfein,
completes a two-step process in which male-only references were
revised to capture the distinguished service, the high standards, and
central role that women play in every facet of the modern United
States Air Force.
The first step focused on changing the song’s third verse, which also
serves as the official song of the United States Air Force Academy.
Goldfein unveiled those new lyrics in March and suggested that
additional changes to remove the remaining male-only references would
be made at a later date and after further review.
The updated lyrics include subtle but important changes that more
accurately illustrate the role women have played for decades.
“These new lyrics speak more accurately to all we do, all that we are
and all that we strive to be as a profession of arms,” Goldfein said.
“They add proper respect and recognition to everyone who serves and
who has served.”
At the same time, Goldfein re-emphasized the careful consideration
that went into the decision for whether, and how, to change the
lyrics.
“I also know with absolute certainty and clarity that these changes
are about adding to, not subtracting from, who we are,” he said.
“Changing the lyrics in no way diminishes the history and
accomplishments of men or dilutes our eternal gratitude for their
sacrifice and bravery.”
The complete new lyrics are:
Off we go into the wild blue yonder,
Climbing high into the sun;
Here they come zooming to meet our thunder,
At ‘em now, Give 'em the gun!
Down we dive, spouting our flame from under,
Off with one helluva roar!
We live in fame or go down in flame. Hey!
Nothing'll stop the U.S. Air Force!
Verse II
Brilliant minds fashioned a crate of thunder,
Sent it high into the blue;
Valiant hands blasted the world asunder;
How they lived God only knew!
Boundless souls dreaming of skies to conquer
Gave us wings, ever to soar!
With scouts before and bombers galore. Hey!
Nothing'll stop the U.S. Air Force!
Verse III
Here's a toast to the host
Of those who love the vastness of the sky,
To a friend we send a message of the brave who serve on high.
We drink to those who gave their all of old,
Then down we roar to score the rainbow's pot of gold.
A toast to the host of those we boast, the U.S. Air Force!
Verse IV
Off we go into the wild sky yonder,
Keep the wings level and true;
If you'd live to be a grey-haired wonder
Keep the nose out of the blue!
Fly to fight, guarding the nation's border,
We'll be there, followed by more!
In echelon we carry on.
Oh, nothing'll stop the U.S. Air Force!
Lyrics printed with permission from Carl Fischer, LLC.
The U.S. Space Force has officially adopted its own song, titled “Semper Supra.” It was unveiled during the September 2022 Air Force Association Air, Space and Cyber Conference in National Harbor, Maryland.
Here's a video with the lyrics, and introductory remarks by General Jay Raymond, the first Chief of Space Operations: