August 20, 2019

Cadet Chapel to close for restoration project Sept. 4

Staff Reports, Aug. 20, 2019 U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. – The iconic Cadet Chapel at the United States Air Force Academy will close for more than three years beginning Sept. 4 for necessary repairs. After removing the Chapel’s furnishings and other preparations, the actual work on the $158 million project will begin on Nov. 1 and projected for completion on Nov. 1, 2022. Visitors now have a little more than two weeks to visit this registered National Historic Landmark, also ranked Colorado’s No. 1 man-made attraction, before the preservation and restoration process begins. The Chapel will be open through...

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August 17, 2019

Texas twins conquer initial training at separate military academies

Story by Jennifer Spradlin, Aug. 18, 2019 Aubrie and Emma. Emma and Aubrie. From birth, the Kuhrt twins from Wichita Falls, Texas, have been a tight pair, so much so that both were more comfortable saying ‘we’ than ‘I.’ This summer was a big milestone for the young women as each began a rigorous phase of military training at separate service academies. Aubrie chose the U.S. Air Force Academy while Emma selected the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. “As long as we can remember we have wanted to join the military,” Emma said. “In about seventh grade, our teacher asked...

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August 16, 2019

Air Force Academy hosts AF Firefighters for EMT certification training

Story and photo by Jennifer Spradlin, Aug. 16, 2019 U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. – Firefighters from across the Air Force travelled to the Air Force Academy recently to enhance their Emergency Medical Services skills. Eighteen students are participating in an accelerated Emergency Medical Technician course, which will qualify them to take the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians test. “The purpose of this training is to get consistent, quality EMS throughout the Air Force by certifying members as Emergency Medical Technicians and training our providers on a variety of [more advanced] skills,” said Shawn Ragsdale, EMS program coordinator here....

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August 14, 2019

Academy caregiver recognized by Red Cross

Staff Reports, Aug. 13, 2019 U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. – Last December, Diane Perez was settling into her morning routine at the Air Force Academy Child Development Center when her colleagues from a neighboring room began calling for help. A toddler in their room was choking on a portion of bananas served during breakfast. The caregivers responsible for the child could not dislodge the food. Perez, a mother of two, instructed the front desk to call 911 and ran into the room, where she said the boy was already turning purple. “It was scary,” she said. “I saw the...

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August 9, 2019

Academy graduates selected for Thunderbirds 2020 demonstration season

Staff Reports, Aug. 9, 2019 U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. – Two Air Force Academy graduates were officially selected to join the United States Air Force Thunderbirds 2020 demonstration season. Capt. Zane Taylor, a 2010 graduate, has been selected as Thunderbird No. 4, the team’s Slot Pilot. He will fly just aft of the No. 1 jet and between the two wingmen. Capt. Katherine Moorkamp, a 2013 graduate, has been selected as Thunderbird No. 10, the team’s executive officer. Her responsibilities will include leading an executive support staff responsible for Thunderbirds budget, training and force support actions for the commander....

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August 8, 2019

Air Force Academy awarded accreditation until 2028-2029

Story by Tech. Sgt. Charles Rivezzo, Aug. 8, 2019 U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo.  – Air Force Academy officials recently announced the results of the institution’s academic accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission. The final report from the HLC found the university met all of the criteria for accreditation and federal compliance requirements without comments, reaffirming its accredited status until the 2028-2029 academic year. “This is the best possible outcome for an academic institution and is exactly what we wanted out of this review,” said Lt. Gen. Jay Silveria, Air Force Academy superintendent. “This is the result of great work...

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August 2, 2019

Air Force Academy hosts first-ever convocation ceremony

Story by Tech. Sgt. Charles Rivezzo, Aug. 2, 2019 U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. – For the first time, the Air Force Academy held a convocation ceremony Aug. 2, welcoming the incoming cadets from the Class of 2023. Much like how graduation marks the end of the academic year, convocation is an academic ceremony to mark the beginning of the academic year and the collegiate careers of the Academy’s newest cadets. Academy superintendent, Lt. Gen. Jay Silveria, opened the ceremony by imploring the incoming class to recognize the opportunities and challenges that lie in front of them. “There will be...

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August 2, 2019

Cadet Summer Research Program: ‘Let’s play in a sandbox!’

Commentary by Lt. Col. Thomas Smicklas, Center of Innovation deputy director U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. -- Since 2007, the Department of Homeland Security and the Air Force Academy have championed game-changing innovations for the U.S. government by leveraging unique public-private partnerships. Our Center of Innovation has become a one-of-a-kind “sandbox” for government agencies, private industry giants, and academia to perform collaborative research, share expertise and shape technologies within the private sector to fit government needs. The value of these partnerships allows the government to see into the future of market-shaping research technology; private industry to gain insight into the...

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August 1, 2019

Academy cadets’ invention to support battlefield Airmen awarded patents

Story by Jennifer Spradlin, Aug. 1, 2019 U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. -- Looking for a challenge? Try coming up with a 100 different ways to get a battlefield Airman loaded with gear from a hovering aircraft to the ground -- quickly and safely. A team of Air Force Academy cadets took on this exact challenge while completing their mechanical and systems engineering degrees in 2016 and now their technology has been awarded three patents by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. The project was part of an annual Air Force Research Laboratory University Design Challenge. Each service academy and...

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July 31, 2019

Basic cadets march back from Jacks Valley with Academy graduates

Story by Jennifer Spradlin, July 31, 2019 U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. — Basic cadets from the Class of 2023 marched back from Jacks Valley to the main Academy grounds today after completing field training. During field training, cadets honed the mental, teamwork and physical conditioning skills critical to becoming fourth class cadets in the Cadet Wing. Among other rigorous demands, they tackled the challenges of the leadership reaction course and ran the confidence and assault courses. They also conducted first aid and combat arms training. “The skills and abilities you’ve garnered over the past 34 days are invaluable and...

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