July 28, 2017

Academy hosts leadership conference with FIRST Robotics Mentors

The Center for Character and Leadership Development hosted 24 educators from across the U.S. at the FIRST Leadership Experience July 24-26 in Polaris Hall. By Laurie Wilson U.S. Air Force Academy Public Affairs The Center for Character and Leadership Development hosted 24 educators from across the U.S. at the FIRST Leadership Experience, July 24-26 in Polaris Hall. Air Force Recruiting sponsored and accompanied the teachers, all members of the national organization For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology, or FIRST. Most teach at the middle and high school level and are commonly called FIRST Mentors. “We wanted to attract...

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July 26, 2017

10th CES firefighters expect win at Firefighter Combat Challenge

By Laurie Wilson/July 26, 2017 Firefighters at the U.S. Air Force Academy will compete in the regional Firefighter Combat Challenge July 28-29 in Longmont, Colorado, intent on qualifying to compete at the World Challenge championship in October. The 10th Civil Engineering Squadron firefighters have competed, won and set world records consistently since 2002, making the Academy an international powerhouse in the challenge. They routinely place in the top three at the championship. Fire Chief Ken Helgerson said to qualify to compete in the World Challenge, firefighters have to hit a specific time at one of the 14 regional events leading...

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July 25, 2017

Basic cadets get ready for ‘gut check’ in Jack’s Valley

By Ray Bowden/July 25, 2017 Dust flew in Jacks Valley when hundreds of basic cadets marched to the training area at the U.S Air Force Academy to begin 10 days of field exercises. Each year, basic cadets spend 10 days in Jacks Valley where their team building, military skills, and mental resolve are put to the test, said Lt. Col. Maria Roberts, Basic Cadet Training commander. “This begins the second portion of BCT, when young civilians begin to turn into Airmen,” she said. The Jacks Valley experience puts basic cadets in conditions similar to a deployment to a remote location....

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July 24, 2017

Design sprint encourages education, empowerment

By Ray Bowden/July 24, 2017 The future of cyber lies in the hands of young people, including service academy cadets and high school students, said a group of IT experts July 20 at the U.S. Air Force Academy. Getting that message out in new and creative ways was the purpose of a Design Sprint hosted by the Air Force CyberWorx team at the school. These semi-regular Design Sprints promote cyber innovation and exploit the Air Force’s partnership with its academic and tech-transfer partners, said Col. Joe “Hark” Herold, CyberWorx industry liaison. “Our premise for this Design Sprint is ‘What could...

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July 24, 2017

‘You got this’: 237 start Prep School BMT

By Ray Bowden There’s more to becoming a cadet candidate at the prep school here than just being admitted. There’s the 18 days of basic military training followed by a 10-month academic program for cadet candidates to tackle. Even then, graduating from the Air Force Academy’s Preparatory School doesn’t guarantee admission to the Academy. So for the young adults who reported to the Prep School July 19, BMT is the first of many challenges they’ll need to overcome to be considered for admission. One of those challenges is moving on and part ways, for a time, from their loved ones....

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July 21, 2017

27 NCOs selected for E-6 promotion

    By Tech. Sgt. Jasmine Reif/July 21, 2017 Yesterday was a great day for the 27 staff sergeants at the Academy who were selected for promotion to technical sergeant. The Air Force selected 8,167 staff sergeants for promotion out of 25,552 eligible for a selection rate of 31.96 percent. 10th ABW Josiah Brodsky Jacob Broersma Mandy Cruz Helice Daulton Matthew Davis Amy Etienne Teruko Fegurgur Jacqueline Fuller Joshua Harwood Amber Kees Kyle Mick Matthew Mills Martha Moore Steven Morris Daniel Pontillo Londone Session Jonathan Sogka Robyn Summers Miranda Wallinder Brian Wiese HQ Staff Jonathon Bradbury James Clark Alison Cline Raymond...

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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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July 18, 2017

Personal mail links basic cadets to outside world

By Maureen Welch/July 18, 2017 You’ve got to love “snail mail,” especially if you happen to be a basic cadet at the Air Force Academy. You could say it’s their lifeline to the outside world during their six weeks of Basic Cadet Training because computers, cellphones and social media are strictly off limits. Other than a family emergency, letters are the only way these trainees can contact or hear from their family and friends. “The mail room is something the basics look forward to because it’s their opportunity to be at ease and relaxed,” said Cadet 1st Class Kai Billings,...

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July 18, 2017

Breaking Barriers! Air Force’s 70th Birthday: July achievements

By Ray Bowden and retired Lt. Col. Steve Simon, Class of 1977 Editor's note: The Air Force celebrates its 70th birthday this year and the U.S. Air Force Academy has made many contributions to our service’s legacy and history of breaking barriers, and advancing technology and innovation.   January Academy Achievements  Jan. 1, 1975 -- Cadet Wing's first sergeant major, Chief Master Sgt. Lawrence Garrett, is succeeded by Chief Master Sgt. Edwin Bell. Jan. 1, 1959 -- Falcon Football caps an undefeated season with a tie (0-0) against heavily-favored Texas Christian University at the Cotton Bowl. Jan. 1, 1978 -- Bill...

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July 14, 2017

US Air Force to host 2018 DoD Warrior Games in Colo. Springs

By Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs / July 10, 2017 [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VOoIjAKcuX4[/embed] Defense Department officials announced July 8, 2017 that the Air Force will host the 2018 DoD Warrior Games at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado June 2018. The announcement took place during the closing ceremony of the Navy-hosted 2017 DoD Warrior Games in Chicago. To mark the announcement, U.S. Navy Adm. Davidson, the commander of the U.S. Fleet Forces Command, passed the ceremonial torch to U.S. Air Force Lt. Gen. Gina M. Grosso, the deputy chief of staff for Manpower, Personnel and Services, before...

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