FALCON FAMILY NEWS
January 2006
Edited by Barbara Gutierrez
Parents’ Liaison
HQ USAFA/CMA
2304 Cadet Drive, Suite 351
USAF Academy CO 80840-5002
(719) 333-3828 Toll free: 877-268-3383 Fax: (719) 333-4094
GREETINGS
Happy New Year! I wish all of you a healthy, happy and prosperous 2006!
AIR FORCE RELEASES NEW MISSION STATEMENT
There have been so many changes in the world since the creation of the Air Force in 1947, consequently, on December 7, 2005, a new mission statement was released.
The mission of the United States Air Force is to deliver sovereign options for the defense of the United States of America and its global interests – to fly and fight in Air, Space, and Cyberspace.
The statement includes two new concepts, “sovereign options” and “cyberspace,” which the Secretary of the Air Force, Michael W. Wynne, and the Air Force Chief of Staff, General T. Michael Moseley, defined by saying that having sovereign options is the essence of being a superpower. They also said that the Air Force’s task is to provide the President, the combatant commanders, and our nation with an array of options that are not limited by the tyranny of distance, the urgency of time, or the strength of our enemy’s defenses. The term “cyberspace” includes network security, data transmission and the sharing of information.
NEW VICE DEAN
Colonel Neal Barlow, a 1978 Academy graduate, became the vice dean of the faculty at the beginning of the 2006 spring semester. As a professor of aeronautics, commander of the 94th Flying Training Squadron, and deputy commander of the 34th Operations Support Group, he has spent over a decade of his active duty career instructing cadets in various capacities. Colonel Barlow graduated with a bachelor of science degree in aeronautics and also earned a master of science in aeronautics and astronautics and a Ph.D in aerospace engineering. He recently served as the head of the Academy Department of Aeronautics.
ALL CADETS GRADUATE WITH A BACHELOR OF SCIENCE DEGREE
No, USAFA does not offer a minor in Engineering! As you certainly know, we offer an impressive selection of engineering majors, but no minor. That rumor/question, however, may have sprouted from another interesting fact about USAFA – all our graduates earn a Bachelor of Science degree regardless of major; that’s because of the large number of engineering and science courses in the core curriculum all cadets must complete. Not many institutions offer a B.S. in History, Foreign Area Studies, English, Humanities, etc.
BASIC ALLOWANCE FOR HOUSING RATES
Class of 2006 Graduates will receive a new Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) rate during their graduation leave this summer. Previously, academy graduates received full Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) at the Colorado rate of $723 per month while on their graduation leave. They will now be paid a lower flat rate based on rank, (BAH II) which is $509 per month. When they report to their first duty station, their BAH will reflect the rate for that location. This is in line with what the Air Force currently pays OTS non-prior service and enlisted inductees.
SPRING FLING DANCE
After much debate, it has been decided to have a Spring Fling Dance instead of a Valentine’s Ball. The dance will be on March 10th from 8:30 pm to midnight. Attendance is not mandatory. The theme will be tropical with Hawaiian attire. (Yes, we may have a snow storm!)
CELL PHONES – RUMOR CONTROL
Rumor has it that cadets are required to have a cell phone. It is NOT mandatory for cadets to have cell phones. The AF cannot mandate a requirement that costs money to an active duty member (e.g.., buying a cell phone and paying for a service).
CADET WING STRENGTH AS OF 31 DECEMBER 2005
MEN WOMEN CUM INTL US
Class of 2006 725 166 891 8 883
Class of 2007 835 179 1014 20 994
Class of 2008 931 209 1140 13 1127
Class of 2009 1053 218 1271 7 1264
CADET WING 3544 772 4316 48 4268
Barbara Gutierrez
Parents’ Liaison