November 21, 2017

Give Thanks Spotlight: Military Families

U.S. Air Force Academy Public Affairs / Nov. 21, 2017 U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. — Note: This week we are giving thanks to military families by highlighting permanent party, cadets and family members whose families have served in the U.S. military for more than three generations. C3C Brad Ellis Great-Grandfather: Military service for the Ellis family dates back to World War I, when C3C Ellis' great-grandfather, Clarence Ellis, enlisted in the Army.  His great-grandfather finished the war fighting with the famous "Lost Brigade" and remained in France until March 1919. Grandfather: Ralph Ellis went to England as a civilian early in...

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November 20, 2017

Senior cadet selected as Academy’s 39th Rhodes scholar

By Ray Bowden and Staff Sgt. Charlie Rivezzo, Nov. 20, 2017 U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. -- A mechanical engineering major at the Air Force Academy was named an American Rhodes scholar Nov. 18 by the Rhodes Trust. Cadet 1st Class Jaspreet Singh, of Tennessee, is the Academy’s 39th cadet to receive the prominent scholarship, according to Helen Meisenhelder, director of the Academy’s Graduate Studies Program. Singh said he was “dumbstruck” when he learned he’d received the prestigious scholarship. “All the candidates were gathered in a conference room and then they called us all together and announced the winners to everybody,”...

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November 20, 2017

U.S. Air Force Academy Band To Perform Holly & Ivy Concerts In December

Interview by Marsha Barancik, Nov. 20, 2017 U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. -- Next month’s 63rd annual Holly & Ivy concert series recasts traditional holiday favorites in separate shows across Colorado. Lt Col Daniel Price, Commander and Conductor of the U.S. Air Force Academy Band, shares how the power of music reinforces the Air Force’s mission. MB: What is unique about this year’s Holly & Ivy concerts? Price: This year we’re tracing the history of the celebration of the holidays in popular culture — including a Broadway adaption of Charles Dickens’ 1843 “A Christmas Carol” and selections from the “Nutcracker...

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November 17, 2017

USAFA ‘belongs to enlisted Airmen too,’ says command chief

By Laurie Wilson, Nov. 17, 2017 U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. -- The top NCO at the Air Force Academy said he’s on a mission today to promote the skills of enlisted Airmen. To that end, Chief Master Sgt. Rob Boyer, Academy command chief, said he’s discussed the importance of the school’s enlisted Airmen with Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force Kaleth Wright, and command chiefs at the service’s major commands. “It’s important the Air Force’s enlisted Airmen know what kind of officers and leaders Academy NCOs develop here every day,” he said. “I’ve taken it as a personal mission...

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November 16, 2017

Air Force Academy cadets continue to support Colorado Springs

By Maureen Welch, Nov. 16, 2017 U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. -- Cadets from the Air Force Academy will be out in full force Nov. 17-19 supporting several community service projects across the Front Range. This school year, cadets have volunteered more than 13,000 hours to more than 70 community service organizations in the Colorado Springs area. “In the month of October, the Cadet Wing completed 46 different volunteer events with 30 local partner organizations,” said Cadet 1st Class Hannah Rogers. This weekend, the cadets will lend their efforts to Habitat for Humanity, Goodwill, Fort Carson’s Warrior Transition Battalion and...

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November 15, 2017

Cadets work to improve ‘Warthog’ technology

By Ray Bowden, Nov. 15, 2017 U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY -- Want to increase aircraft capabilities and blow more things up? If you’re an A-10 Thunderbolt II pilot, you might just be in luck today. Cadets 1st Class Jon Clegg and John Potthoff, aided by Dr. Thomas Yechout, their aeronautics professor, said they developed a tag-team attitude while working together to research decreasing maintenance requirements and increase munitions capability for the Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft. Nicknamed the “Warthog,” the Thunderbolt II is a single-seat, twin-engine, straight-wing jet aircraft flown by the U.S. military since 1972. “We’re working together to...

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November 14, 2017

Air Force leaders convene at Academy for Corona

  By Ray Bowden, Nov. 14, 2017 U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. -- Top Air Force officials got a chance to talk policy outside the Pentagon Oct. 30-Nov. 3 at the Air Force Academy. The annual Corona meeting gives service leaders, including the secretary, chief of staff and chief master sergeant of the Air Force, the chance to plot the future of the Air Force. The hot topics included the future of aviation, space operations and cyber security. "It's an honor our senior leaders hold this event here each year," said Col. David Harris, the Academy’s vice superintendent. "The strategic conversations...

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November 9, 2017

MILITARY LEGACY SPOTLIGHT: The Rhodes Family

U.S. Air Force Academy Public Affairs / Nov. 8, 2017 U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. — Note: This week we are highlighting permanent party, cadets and family members whose families have served in the U.S. military for more than three generations. Meet Jeff Rhodes, 10th Air Base Wing Communications Squadron Jeffrey Rhodes was the top graduate in the Academy Class of 1987 and served on active duty until 1992. He returned to Civil Service in 2015 as a Senior IT Specialist here at the Academy. An interesting article was posted in the Los Angeles Times about him and his classmate Hoang Tran:...

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November 9, 2017

Unbroken Will: The Captain Lance P. Sijan Story

PACE Profession of Arms Center of Excellence, Nov 9, 2017 Today marks the 50th Anniversary of the day Capt. Sijan ejected over North Vietnam. Ejected from his fighter jet over Laos in 1967, Sijan spent 46 days and nights evading capture from the Viet Cong. When captured he was 80 pounds and close to death. But he was a million miles away from giving up. Lance believed in freedom and his fellow Airmen. He died on January 22, 1968 and was the first Air Force Academy graduate to receive the Medal of Honor. He lived the code of conduct to...

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November 9, 2017

USAFA supt: ‘Thank you’ veterans

By Lt. Gen. Jay Silveria, the Superintendent, U.S. Air Force Academy, Nov. 9, 2017 U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. -- This weekend we celebrate Veteran’s Day, an opportunity for us to spend time with our families and reflect on the service and sacrifice of the men and women that have worn our nation’s uniform. This week, I visited the VA hospital in Denver and was reminded that all of us serving today, in uniform or out, have inherited a proud legacy. Every veteran has a story.  Some served in war, others in peace; many were volunteers, others were called. Some...

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