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AFCEC leads bed down efforts for B-21 Raider stealth bomber
November 24, 2021 — The B-21 will incrementally replace the B-1 Lancer and B-2 Spirit to perform both conventional and nuclear missions alongside the B-52 Stratofortress. As the Air Force transitions to a two-bomber fleet, the strategy to bed down the new bomber has been to minimize operational impacts, maximize the reuse of existing facilities and reduce overhead as much as possible. ... MORE

Shown is an artist rendering of a B-21 Raider in a hangar at Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D., one of the future bases to host the new airframe. The Air Force Civil Engineer Center is leading a $1 billion construction effort at Ellsworth AFB to deliver sustainable infrastructure to meet warfighter demands for bomber airpower.

JBSA First Sergeant Diamond Sharp Awards
November 23, 2021 — The Diamond Sharp Award is sponsored by the Joint Base San Antonio First Sergeants Council and recognizes outstanding Airmen who continually exceed the standard to meet the Air Force mission... MORE

The Diamond Sharp Award is sponsored by the Joint Base San Antonio First Sergeants Council and recognizes outstanding Airmen who continually exceed the standard to meet the Air Force mission.

Air Force releases alternate component fitness score charts
November 13, 2021 — After announcing the components in July, over 9,000 data points were collected to determine the point values for each component by assessing approximately 2,000 Airmen from 23 installations... MORE

Department of the Air Force releases findings on interpersonal violence survey
November 10, 2021 — After the Secretary of the Air Force established the Interpersonal Violence Task Force in 2020, the team examined a broad range of 81 behaviors along what is known as the “Continuum of Harm” to determine if the DAF is keeping Airmen and Guardians safe, and providing needed support after they experience any kind of interpersonal violence... MORE

A+ Toolkit Presented at Fall Corona Conference
November 4, 2021 — The A+ Toolkit, published in September of 2021, was designed to facilitate collaboration between military installations and their local school districts to increase access to high-quality public education for military-connected children. ... MORE

Brian Selmeski (center), chair of the Air University Public K-12 Education Working Group and co-author of the Toolkit, and Mollie Raymond (right of Selmeski), spouse of Space Force Chief of Space Operations Gen. John Raymond, pose for a photo with Space Force senior spouses at the Corona Conference Oct. 21, 2021, at the U.S. Air Force Academy.

Air Force nears 97% active duty vaccination rate
November 4, 2021 — Nearly 97% of Airmen and Guardians on active duty have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine... MORE

USECAF Gina Ortiz Jones visits 433rd Medical Squadron

Air Force opens enlisted developmental special duty assignments at AFROTC detachments
November 2, 2021 — Air Force NCOs will have the opportunity to directly influence the development of future officers with the release of a new Special Duty. ... MORE

Air Force ROTC is a college program offered at more than 1,100 campuses across the country. It prepares young men and women to become leaders in the Air Force, but it’s also much more. You’ll grow mentally and physically as you acquire strong leadership skills that will benefit you as an Air Force Officer and in life. It’s also a great opportunity to pay for school through scholarships. You’ll develop lifelong friendships and have unique experiences. Plus unlike many college students, you’ll have a position waiting for you after graduation at one of the world’s top high-tech organizations—the U.S. Air Force.

AF Secretary calls for ‘technically and operationally innovative approaches’ to meet logistics challenges
October 20, 2021 — Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall’s keynote remarks to the National Defense Transportation Association and the U.S. Transportation Command’s Fall Meeting offered in unvarnished terms the challenges facing the United States posed by China and what the U.S. must do to best maintain global stability... MORE

Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall takes questions from the audience at the National Defense Transportation Fall Meeting in the Gaylord Hotel, National Harbor, Md., Oct. 18, 2021. (U.S. Air Force photo by Andy Morataya)

Air Force announces changes for enlisted promotion recommendation points
October 12, 2021 — Air Force officials recently announced changes to the Enlisted Evaluation System’s promotion recommendation point matrix... MORE

The changes in the Enlisted Evaluation System introduce a new Promotion Recommendation Score, which places value on the experience of Airmen and sustained performance when it comes to promotions. Additionally, the “Not Ready Now” recommendation will no longer receive promotion points and the “Do Not Promote” recommendation will be eliminated. These changes will impact senior airmen and staff sergeants who are promotion eligible beginning with the 22E6 promotion cycle. (U.S. Air Force graphic)

Air Force to launch official website redesign, temporarily pause new content for updates
October 1, 2021 — To enable required updates, Air Force officials said the service will not release new content on AF.mil Oct. 1-6, while the Air Force migrates to a redesigned, mobile-ready website... MORE

Newly redesign www.af.mil promotional graphic.

Myths and facts about the vax — debunking common COVID-19 vaccine myths
September 23, 2021 — The COVID-19 vaccine has been mandated across the Department of Defense and despite its demonstrated effectiveness and safety, a host of myths have left some Airmen and Guardians hesitant to receive it. While social media posts and some news outlets may make it harder to keep up with what is fact or fiction, the science is clear … approved COVID-19 vaccines work... MORE

The COVID-19 vaccine has been mandated across the Department of Defense and despite its demonstrated effectiveness and safety, a host of myths have left some Airmen and Guardians hesitant to receive it. While social media posts and some news outlets may make it harder to keep up with what is fact or fiction, the science is clear … approved COVID-19 vaccines work. (U.S. Air Force graphic)

Air Force releases 2021 assessment of states’ support of military families
September 8, 2021 — The 2021 assessment of states' support of military families measured ease of licensure portability across state lines and support for pre-kindergarten through 12th grade public education surrounding installations... MORE

Air Force announces mandatory COVID-19 vaccine implementation guidelines for Airmen, Guardians
September 7, 2021 — Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall has released a service implementation plan that requires Airmen and Guardians to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by the following dates, unless seeking an exemption... MORE

DAF announces mandatory COVID vaccine implementation guidelines for Airmen, Guardians.

Are you ready to fill the Air Force SPARK TANK?
August 31, 2021 — Now is your chance to lead Air Education and Training Command to a three-peat at this year’s Air Force Spark Tank 2022 competition. AETC Airmen can submit their ideas for the Air Force-level competition using the GAIN platform at the following link: https://gain.apps.dso.mil/... MORE

Departing AFIMSC command chief reflects on tenure
August 30, 2021 — As he prepares to leave the position he’s held since July 2019, the command chief master sergeant at the Air Force Installation and Mission Support Center at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland reflected on the role he said he was meant to take on... MORE

Chief Master Sergeant Edwin Ludwigsen prepares to leave the position he’s held since July 2019 as command chief at AFIMSC reflects on the role he said he was meant to take on.

Air Force Marathon shifts to virtual race due to COVID-19 precautions
August 20, 2021 — The decision was made to protect the health and safety of more than 20,000 participants, volunteers and guests... MORE

Air Force releases additional dress, appearance changes
August 12, 2021 — New dress and appearance updates will soon be released following feedback, testing from Airmen and reviews conducted as a part of the 2020 Air Force Uniform Board... MORE

New dress and appearance changes are expected to be released in early October 2021 upon the updated publication of Air Force Instruction 36-2903, Dress and Appearance of Air Force Personnel. Changes include male bulk hair standards, cosmetic tattooing, female hair accessory size, optional hosiery in dress uniform, transparent piercing spacers and morale patches. (U.S. Air Force graphic by Staff Sgt. Elora J. McCutcheon)

Air Force photo contest accepting submissions until Aug. 13
August 6, 2021 — The submission window for this year’s Air Force Photo Contest is extended to Aug. 13. The contest launched July 1 with a theme of “What a Wonderful World.”... MORE

The submission window for this year’s Air Force Photo Contest is extended to Aug. 13.

New Force Generation model builds high-end readiness, sustainability for Joint Force
August 5, 2021 — The Air Force announced Aug. 5 it is in the final phases of transitioning to a new force generation model to balance today’s combatant commander needs while building high-end readiness for the future... MORE

Wanted: Innovative ideas for Spark Tank 2022
August 3, 2021 — Spark Tank 2022, a Department of the Air Force annual competition in which Airmen and Guardians pitch innovative solutions to operational problems, will accept submissions in early August 2021... MORE

Master Sgt. Justin Bauer from the 355th Fighter Wing at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., was awarded the Spark Tank 2021 trophy for his idea, “Innovative Approach to C-130 Wheel Repair.” Spark Tank 2022, a Department of the Air Force annual competition in which Airmen and Guardians pitch innovative solutions to operational problems, will accept submissions in early August 2021.