July 21, 2017

Academy superintendent takes ‘final flight’

Story by Ray Bowden/July 21, 2017; photo by Darcie Ibidapo The skies over Colorado Springs were crystal clear clouds when the Air Force Academy’s top-officer made her "final flight" July 17 in a TG-16 glider. It’s tradition in Air Force pilot’s circles for commanders to take a celebratory final flight into the wild blue yonder before retiring from active duty. Johnson is scheduled to retire later this year after turning-over command of the Academy to Lt. Gen. Jay Silveria Aug. 11. Johnson’s flight touched down just before 9:30 a.m. She was greeted by the applause of the crowd who gathered on...

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May 17, 2017

President nominates Academy grad to be next superintendent

U.S. Air Force Academy Public Affairs/May 17, 2017 Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis announced May 17 that President Donald Trump has nominated Maj. Gen. Jay B. Silveria for appointment to the rank of lieutenant general, and for assignment as superintendent, U.S. Air Force Academy. Silveria, a 1985 Academy graduate, most recently served as deputy commander of U.S. Air Forces Central Command, and deputy commander of the Combined Air Force Air Component, U.S. Central Command, Southwest Asia. He will direct the Academy’s undergraduate academic program, cadet military and athletic training and character development, leading to a bachelor of science degree and...

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August 18, 2017

Resiliency training equips Airmen for hurdles

By Laurie Wilson/Aug. 18, 2017 The Air Force Academy trained Airmen from the Academy and Peterson Air Force Base for roles as Master Resilient Trainers during a five-day training program in Polaris Hall, Aug. 14-18, 2017. Community Support Program Manager Scott Andrews said the program is designed to help Airmen balance their duties with any challenges of life-problems. “There are times in Airmen’s lives when the constant pressure to balance personal, team and career demands seems like a never-ending fast-paced treadmill,” he said. “It can be easy to become overwhelmed.” In total, 45 airmen learned what’s required to help them...

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September 14, 2017

Reserve Citizen Airmen essential to USAFA mission

By Maj. Amy West/Sept. 14, 2017 U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. - Reserve Citizen Airmen bring their skills and experience to augment the active-duty force at the U.S. Air Force Academy in order to produce tomorrow’s Air Force leaders. "Each year the Air Force Academy depends on Reserve Citizen Airmen in order to fulfill the mission here,” said Col. Christine Holliday, Reserve advisor to the superintendent, U.S. Air Force Academy. “In fiscal 2017, more than 120 Air Reserve component members, both assigned to USAFA and assigned to other units but performing man days at USAFA, will serve part-time or on...

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September 13, 2017

7 things to know about the new Green Dot training

By U.S. Air Force Academy Public Affairs / Sept. 13, 2017 U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. -- 1. Green Dot is an Air Force strategy to decrease interpersonal violence across the service: It is an interactive training program designed to help Airmen, which includes military and civilians, intervene in and prevent violence. 2. More than sexual assault: Green Dot training aims to prevent suicide, sexual assault, family violence, abuse, stalking and other forms of violence. 3. It addresses multiple forms of violence simultaneously: Individuals may be training on one specific instance per training; however, Green Dot is designed to help...

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September 11, 2017

7 Facts About America’s Got Talent Finalist “In the Stairwell” That Will Make You Love Them And The Air Force

By Andrew Hamilton / Sept. 11, 2017 U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, COLO - The United States Air Force Academy’s a cappella group “In the Stairwell” were voted into the America’s Got Talent semifinals and to celebrate we’re going to declassify 7 surprising facts about these young men who are serving their country and melting hearts across the world. 1. If they win the competition, they don’t get the $1 million grand prize. The members of United States Air Force Academy’s A Cappella Club, In the Stairwell, won’t be going on an epic spending-spree if they win. Since they’re selflessly representing the...

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September 1, 2017

Special Delivery: ‘Sox the Fox’ brings fan mail to USAFA

Colorado Springs Sky Sox mascot “Sox the Fox” with Airmen at the Community Center. (U.S. Air Force Academy photo) By Laurie Wilson/Sept. 1, 2017 U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. -- Colorado Springs Sky Sox mascot “Sox the Fox” scored big with Air Force Academy Airmen Aug. 29, delivering hand-written letters of appreciation from their fan base at the Community Center. The special delivery was serendipitous as it happened during Falcon Football's week-long theme of “Family and Community.” “This show of support is important to Airmen as they realize people do care about what they do, and took the time out...

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August 31, 2017

Supt’s Corner: Academy honors families, community

  By Lt. Gen. Jay Silveria, Air Force Academy Superintendent/Aug. 31, 2017 Dear Academy friends and family, For each home football game this season we will designate a weekly theme that highlights an epitome of excellence in today’s Air Force. We celebrate these themes to honor our supporters and history, inspire conversations on our programs and people, and highlight domains that are driving innovation and shaping the future of modern warfare. We kickoff this year’s football season with “Family and Community” because these relationships are the cornerstone to our mission success in training and educating the future leaders of character...

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August 31, 2017

Parent groups reach out to cadets from hurricane-struck gulf coast

By Ray Bowden/Aug. 30, 2017 U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, COLO -- When Hurricane Harvey struck Texas, the North Texas Parent Club “got mobilized” and organized a dinner Sept. 1 at a Colorado Springs restaurant for cadets from the Gulf Coast. Hurricane Harvey, the largest rainstorm in the history of the continental U.S. according to some meteorologists, began pounding the region Aug. 26. It’s since been downgraded to a tropical storm, but heavy rainfall again drubbed Texas and parts of Louisiana Aug. 30. In all, 113 cadets at the Air Force Academy and six cadet candidates at the Prep School hail from...

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August 30, 2017

Academy Airmen graduate leadership school

By Laurie Wilson, Aug. 30, 2017 U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. -- Six senior airmen at the Air Force Academy graduated Airman Leadership School August 24 in a ceremony in front of their families, friends and leaders here. Along with earning six college credit hours in leadership training, successfully completing the course qualifies all six to directly supervise Airmen. Senior Airman Cassidy Gula, a 10th Medical Group health care administrator, was recognized by her ALS instructors as the Distinguished Graduate. “My dad, his girlfriend and my in-laws all came to celebrate last week and this week,” she said. “‘ALS’ is an...

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