January 24, 2020

Academy cadets make playoffs at national moot court competition

From left: Maj. Kenneth Hyle, U.S. Air Force Academy Cadets  Matthew Pryor, Caitlin Bitting, Moira Casey, Noah Jensen, Aryemis Brown, Abbigayle Weaver and Maj. Wolfgang Weber pose for a group photo. Hyle and Weber are assistant law professors at the Academy and coaches for the Academy's Moot Court Team. The cadets seen here are on the Moot Court Team. (Courtesy photo) By Ray Bowden, Jan. 24, 2019 U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. -- Cadets at the Air Force Academy represented the university at a national-level collegiate court competition Jan. 17-18, making it deep into the tournament before eventually standing aside...

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January 23, 2020

Moving beyond a mistake: Academy cadet mentors troubled teens in his hometown

Story by Jennifer Spradlin, Jan. 25, 2020 U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. – Cadet 2nd Class Prince Njoku believes in second chances. Over winter break, the Academy cadet spent time mentoring middle and high schoolers at the Fort Bend Juvenile Facility in Richmond, Texas. The facility houses juveniles awaiting court appearances for a wide range of illegal behavior from theft to assault. “Humility is so key, I think, to being a good leader, and I felt that I could learn as much from these kids as they learned from me,” he said. Njoku is the first to admit he’s not...

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January 23, 2020

Learning the language: Enlisted Airman improves Chinese language skills with cadets

Maj. Kevin McGuiness (left), a Chinese language instructor, and Airman 1st Class Curtis Fields, a security forces Airman, discuss paperwork McGuiness will use in class, Jan. 14, 2020, at the U.S. Air Force Academy. Fields is attending the class to improve his own Chinese language skills and is also helping McGuiness conduct an unofficial audit of the class. (Photo/Trevor Cokley) Story by Ray Bowden, Jan. 23, 20120 U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. – Most of what Maj. Kevin McGuiness had to say in class Jan. 14 might have been in Chinese, but his students didn’t mind. Neither did Airman 1st...

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January 13, 2020

Academy’s commandant and dean put new spin on training, academics for cadets

Brig. Gen. Linell Letendre, the dean of the faculty at the U.S. Air Force Academy . Story by Ray Bowden, photos by Trevor Cokley, Jan. 13, 2020 U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. -- Two generals said their teamwork will positively affect the Air Force Academy in the New Year and beyond. Cadet Wing Commandant Brig. Gen. Michele Edmondson and Dean of Faculty Brig. Gen. Linell Letendre said the changes made late last year to the Academy’s training and research programs bode well for the school’s future. “These modifications will allow cadets to train with a deliberate objective based purpose that structures...

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December 23, 2019

U.S. Space Force becomes a reality

President Donald Trump signs S.1790, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020 as senior leaders look on, Friday, Dec. 20, 2019 At Joint Base Andrews. The act authorizes a budget that supports the U.S. armed forces and postures the Air Force to meet the requirements of the National Defense Strategy. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Spencer Slocum) By Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs , Dec. 23, 2019   President Trump signed into law Dec. 20 the sprawling, $738 billion defense bill, making history by creating the Space Force as a stand-alone, sixth branch...

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December 20, 2019

The Weekly Lead: Scholarship winners, a big cyber win & more

The  Weekly Lead 1.  Scholarship Round Up (Graphic by Tech. Sgt. Ben Stratton) Five cadets  at the Air Force Academy are getting ready to study abroad next year, courtesy of Marshall and Scharzman scholarships. It’s not just every cadet who earns these prestigious opportunities. Read about it here: https://www.usafa.edu/news/cadet-scholars-to-study-in-u-k-china-next-year 2.  Healthy Options The Academy’s commitment to promoting a healthy lifestyle means cadets have more dining options next year. https://www.usafa.edu/news/academy-to-launch-dining-card-system-expand-options-for-cadets 3.  Another Big Cyber Win U.S. Air Force Academy Cadet 1st Class Sears Schulz (middle) took first place in the President’s Cup, a Department of Homeland Security cyber competition Dec. 12,...

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November 13, 2019

Taking care of Airmen: How the AF Academy’s Peak Performance Center helped a cadet 

Story by Ray Bowden, photo by Master Sgt.  Julius Delos Reyes, Nov. 13, 2019 U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. – Alberto Moita thought he was going crazy. It was Oct. 15, 2018, Monday morning, and while his classmates chatted about their weekend, Moita was in the grip of a nervous breakdown. “I was very nervous and shaky,” he said. “My anxiety was going up and I felt like my thoughts were going 100 mph.” Less than 48 hours earlier, a motorcycle rider drove through a red traffic signal at the Bijou Street and I-25 intersection and collided with the car...

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December 18, 2019

Academy to launch dining card system, expand options for cadets

Story by Jennifer Spradlin, Dec. 18, 2019 U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. – The Air Force Academy will roll out a pilot program expanding cadet dining options early next year. The Cadet Select campus dining card program will adopt best practices from other leading universities while giving cadets access to healthy dining options outside Mitchell Hall. “We listened to cadet feedback and responded to their call for greater flexibility and more dining options – especially for those cadets who have not yet earned driving privileges,” said Beth Claude, 10th Force Support Squadron innovation and integration director. Each month funds from...

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December 17, 2019

AF Academy cadet wins big at cyber competition

U.S. Air Force Academy Cadet 1st Class Sears Schulz (middle) took first place in the President's Cup, a Department of Homeland Security cyber competition Dec. 12, 2019.  (Photo / Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency) By Ray Bowden, Dec. 17, 2019 U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. -- When the dust settled at a Department of Homeland Security cyber competition Dec. 12, a senior cadet at the Air Force Academy took first place in the event’s individual challenge. Cadet 1st Class Sears Schulz fought fake global hackers targeting several federal departments to beat out second place. He said he was “surprised” to take the...

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December 13, 2019

Academy NCO gets ready for officer training school

(U.S. Air Force photos/Trang Le) By Ray Bowden, Dec. 13, 2019 U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. -- A curriculum developer at the Air Force Academy is one of a few enlisted Airmen this year to be selected to attend officer training school. “I told myself not to ‘ugly cry,’” said Tech. Sgt. Samantha Van Cleave about her emotional state when Brig. Gen. Michele Edmondson, the Academy’s commandant, told her of her selection in November in front of her coworkers. “I did work very hard for this, but I’m incredibly honored.” Van Cleave is from Mansfied, Arkansas. She lists education as a...

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