August 27, 2018

Letter from the Superintendent: Celebrating strength, excellence

Dear Academy Alumni, Friends, Family and Supporters, For the 2018 Air Force Football season, we have designated theme weeks tied to our six home games, each highlighting a domain of strength and excellence at our Academy. We celebrate these themes to honor our supporters and history, to initiate conversations on our programs and people, and to display how USAFA is actively driving innovation and shaping the future of modern warfare. This season, our themes include: Long Blue Line (Aug 27 – Sep 8): We deliver the future leaders of modern warfare, graduates who join the Long Blue Line and epitomize...

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August 24, 2018

Falcon Stadium gets a facelift

By Laurie Wilson, Aug. 24, 2018 U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. —  Air Force football fans will have even more reason to cheer this season when the Falcons kick-off their first home game Sept. 1 in an upgraded stadium. Falcon Stadium has recently undergone a partial renovation including new synthetic turf, scoreboards and an updated home-team locker room. The Falcons will also debut new “heritage uniforms” for the first home game. On Aug. 18, fans got a preseason look at the phase one improvements during Fan Day, where they got a chance to visit with the team and staff at Falcon field....

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August 14, 2018

The ‘Other Side of Fear’

By Staff Reports, Aug. 14, 2018 U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. — Staff Sgt. Charles Carter had to be the first passenger to jump out of that plane. “I knew I couldn’t be a leader if I wasn’t the first to jump so I jumped,” he said. Carter found himself standing in the door as the only noncommissioned officer in a group of cadets and cadet instructors on board the UV-18 Twin Otter aircraft flying 5,000 feet above Air Force Academy’s drop zone. “I can’t explain what it feels like when you leave the plane,” he said. “The first thing you notice...

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August 14, 2018

STRATCOM’s top officer visits USAFA

By Laurie Wilson, Aug. 11, 2018 U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. — The commander of U.S. Strategic Command said Aug. 10 that space research at the Air Force Academy benefits the Department of Defense and the nation. Speaking at the Academy’s Space Systems Research Center during his visit, Gen. John Hyten encouraged cadets and faculty to continue to view space as a professional enterprise. “Learn how this business works,” he said. “Learn how space integrates with air, ground and sea. Make sure you look at your projects from a military and warfighting perspective moving forward.” At the research center, cadets updated...

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August 8, 2018

Air Force Academy changing to meet needs of the Air Force

(U.S. Air Force photo by Darcie Ibidapo) By Ray Bowden, Aug. 8, 2018 U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. -- The Air Force Academy’s top officer said decisions made by senior Pentagon officials and increased defense spending are changing how the Academy prepares cadets to contend with modern warfare. Lieutenant Gen. Jay Silveria said this and more when he closed-out his first year as Academy superintendent Aug. 9 with a commander’s call for his military and civilian staff. These changes are the result of the Academy staying in line with Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Goldfein’s focus areas: “Revitalizing squadrons,...

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August 6, 2018

Contestants needed for Alpha Warrior Games at USAFA

By Laurie Wilson U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. -- Look out American Ninja Warriors -- the Air Force’s Alpha Warrior Tour is stopping by the Air Force Academy August 14-15. The tour is part of the Alpha Warrior Program, an Air Force initiative to enhance Airman Readiness and fitness. Like the TV hit, the Air Force games are built around an obstacle course that challenges contestants as they advance through rigorous Battle Rig stations. Cadets, Airmen and their families can meet Ninja Warriors Sara Heesen and Kevin Klein, try-out the Alpha Battle Stations and compete on the Warrior Battle Rig, to...

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August 3, 2018

Air Force Academy basic trainees to join Cadet Wing at Acceptance Parade

By U.S. Air Force Academy Public Affairs staff U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. -- Scores of young men and women at the Air Force Academy will celebrate the completion of basic cadet training August 7 during the Acceptance Parade. The 9 a.m. event at Stillman Parade Field marks the Class of 2022’s "acceptance" into the Academy's Cadet Wing as they transition from basic cadets to cadets fourth class. Visitors should enter the Academy through the North Gate at Exit 156 off I-25 and arrive early to see the demonstrations before the parade. The North Gate opens to guests at 6 a.m....

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August 2, 2018

6 cadets to graduate USAFA in summer ceremony

By U.S. Air Force Academy Public Affairs U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. -- Six newly-minted lieutenants will join the Long Blue Line August 3 during the Air Force Academy’s summer graduation ceremony. Grant Gould, Chelsea Grimison, Brian Kelly, Justin McManis, Craig Siegel and Christopher Walsch will receive their diplomas and commissions as second lieutenants, 9 a.m. in Polaris Hall. Lieutenant. Gen. Jay Silveria, Academy superintendent, is scheduled to preside and Dr. Harold Taylor, deputy head of Student Academic Affairs and Academy registrar, will be master of ceremonies. Colonel Troy Harting, Academy vice dean, will give-out the diplomas and Brig. Gen. Kristin...

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July 26, 2018

USAFA cadets team with Forest Service to build footbridge

Cadets from the U.S. Air Force Academy and engineers with the White River National Forest build a bridge near Breckenridge, Colo., July 2018. Last summer, the team started working on a design for a 35-foot wooden bridge to take pedestrians over a stream near the McCullough Gulch Trail southwest of Breckenridge. A ceremony to open the bridge is scheduled for noon, August 2. (Courtesy photo by Dr. Stan Rader) Story by Tech. Sgt. Tabitha Lee/July 26, 2018 U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. -- A group of cadets from the Air Force Academy and engineers with the White River National Forest plan...

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July 20, 2018

Good neighbors: USAFA, Fountain Police Dept team up for training

(U.S. Air Force photo by Christopher DeWitt) Story by Laurie Wilson, July 20, 2018 U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. -- The Air Force Academy teamed up with the City of Fountain Police Department July 11 and July 18 to stage crisis training. Airmen assigned to the 10th Security Forces Squadron supported the Fountain officers by helping them enact domestic violence, vehicle pursuit and felony traffic stop scenarios at the Academy. “It was a real eye-opening experience, especially for our younger officers, to take in this type of a scenario and bring resolution to it,” said Lt. Brian Pearson. The training included...

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