July 1, 2019

Air Force Academy goes high-tech with first-responder software

Staff Sgt. Jake Craig, a military working dog handler assigned to the the 10th Security Forces Squadron at the Air Force Academy, and his dog take a break while providing security at Clune Arena, June 27, 2019. The 10th SFS and other first-responders at the base are expected to benefit from the use of the Air Force Disaster Response Force Common Operating Picture, now in use at the base. It's a high-tech emergency-management program that allows first-responders to get accurate, moment by moment information when responding to any major disaster or incident. (Photo/Darcie Ibidapo) By Ray Bowden, July 1, 2019...

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June 28, 2019

Academy appointees start Basic Cadet Training fueled by family support

(U.S. Air Force photo/Darcie Ibidapo) Story by Ray Bowden, June 29, 2019 U.S AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. -- Scores of young men and women reported to Basic Cadet Training at the Air Force Academy June 27. In all, nearly 1,200 took their first steps toward joining the Academy’s Class of 2023. It’s a diverse class too, with 367 trainees identifying as minorities. One-hundred-nineteen are African-American, six are Native American, 105 are Asian and 17 are Pacific Islanders, according to the latest report from the Academy’s Admissions Office. Twenty new Academy appointees did not confirm their ethnic identity at the time of...

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June 25, 2019

AF Academy teams up with Test Pilot School in new candidacy program

Story by Jennifer Spradlin, June 25, 2019 U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. -- Two Air Force Academy graduates from the Class of 2019 have been nominated to attend the Air Force Test Pilot School in 2022 as part of a new training partnership between the two institutions. Test Pilot School is a highly competitive, 48-week, educational opportunity for aviators, combat systems officers, remotely piloted aircraft pilots and engineers. Graduates of the course receive a master’s of science in flight test engineering and go on to test a variety of aerospace weapon systems for use in the Air Force. Col. Brian Neff,...

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June 25, 2019

Basic Cadet Training: The breakdown for the AF Academy’s Class of ‘23

Story by Ray Bowden, June 25, 2019 U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. -- The Air Force Academy’s Class of 2023 reports for basic training June 27, bringing with it a near-20 percent uptick in the number of cadets with the potential to become pilots. According to the Admissions Office at the school, 727 new cadets – 63.4 percent of the class – are qualified to become pilots, a very noticeable rise from last year’s number of 520 – 44.4 percent of the Class of 2022. In all, 1,147 young men and women are slated to report for Basic Cadet Training. That’s...

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June 24, 2019

AF Academy’s Class of ’23 to arrive June 27

(Photo by Christopher DeWitt) Staff report, June 24, 2019 U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. -- The next class of cadets at the Air Force Academy arrives June 27 to in-process and start Basic Cadet Training, their introduction to the Academy and military life. Approximately 1,100 members of the Academy’s Class of 2023 will report to the Academy starting at 7 a.m. to begin in-processing. The next day at 8:30 a.m., the trainees will take the Cadet Oath of Allegiance at Stillman Field. Basic Cadet Training is June 28-Aug. 3 and includes uniform and dorm inspections, marching drills, physical conditioning, and weapons training. The basic cadets...

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June 24, 2019

Encouraged to experiment: CCLD’s Adventure Based Learning program promotes teamwork

Story and photos by Jennifer Spradlin, June 24, 2019 U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. -- Zeyon Lyons and his teammates, all Air Force Academy cadets, were hungry. A simple miscommunication meant they missed the breakfast window at one of many checkpoints scattered across Academy grounds for the culminating exercise of Adventure Based Learning, an outdoor, multi-mile, 30-hour team challenge. “On the whole, our team had a good attitude,” Lyons said. “We tried to stay positive and talk through mistakes rather than placing blame on each other. [This situation] taught us the importance of having a plan and getting everyone on the...

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June 21, 2019

Summertime Operations Air Force program starts for Academy cadets

By Ray Bowden, June 21, 2019 U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. -- A program to acquaint scores of Air Force Academy cadets with the operational Air Force is in full swing today. The first round of cadets left Colorado Springs earlier this month for 26 Air Force bases including Edwards and Vandenberg Air Force bases in California, Joint Base-San Antonio, Texas, and Yokota Air Base, Japan. “Operations Air Force is a two-and-half week summer training program for Academy cadets and Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps cadets,” said Lt. Col. Anthony Salvatore, the cadet wing’s group-one commander. More than 900 upcoming...

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June 19, 2019

Air Force Academy dean, former faculty member receive research awards

Kevin Williams (left), the Air Force director of studies, analysis and assessments, and Brig. Gen.  Andrew Armacost, the dean of the faculty at the U.S. Air Force Academy. (Photo by Trevor Cokley) Story by Ray Bowden, June 19, 2019 U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. -- The dean at the Air Force Academy and a national security expert received high-level awards for improving operations research across the Defense Department June 17 at the school. Brig. Gen. Andrew Armacost, the dean of faculty, received the Dr. Jacqueline R. Henningsen Analyst Lifetime Achievement Award. Retired Gen. James McCarthy, a prior vice-commandant of cadets at...

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June 17, 2019

Col. Brian Hartless takes command of 10th Air Base Wing

Col. Brian Hartless. (U.S. Air Force photo) Staff report, May 17, 2019 U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. -- Col. Brian Hartless accepted command of the 10th Air Base Wing from Col. Shawn Campbell, June 17 at the Air Force Academy. Hartless comes to the Academy from the Pentagon, where he was the senior military assistant to the secretary of the Air Force for Installations & Energy. Before then, he commanded the 86th Civil Engineer Group at Ramstein Air Base, Germany. As the commander of the 10th ABW, Hartless is responsible for the preservation of, and improvements to, a $3.5 billion base infrastructure, and...

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June 12, 2019

Academy cadet pushes past comfort zone with beauty pageant, PEER mentoring program

U.S. Air Force Academy Cadet Savannah Menken (right) and her mother, Lisa Menken, a technical sergeant in the Air National Guard. (Courtesy photo) Story by Jennifer Spradlin, May 12, 2019 U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. -- Savannah Menken isn’t afraid to test the limits of her comfort zone. Whether it’s applying to the Air Force Academy or entering a beauty pageant on a whim, Menken believes life is meant for adventure. “I had never done anything like a pageant before, never walked on a stage,” she said. “I couldn’t even walk in heels a month before the pageant, but my mother...

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