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CSAF releases action orders to accelerate change across Air Force
December 10, 2020 — In August, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Charles Q. Brown, Jr., released his strategic approach entitled Accelerate Change or Lose, in which he described his view of the strategic landscape as Air Force chief of staff and, from that, his emphasis on why change is necessary. The newly-released action orders now represent his call to Airmen to move forward aggressively in the push toward change; the “what” to the first document’s “why.”... MORE

Renowned Air Force test pilot Chuck Yeager dies
December 9, 2020 — Famed test pilot, retired Brig. Gen. Charles E. “Chuck” Yeager died Dec. 7. He was 97. Probably his most notable achievement was piloting the Bell X-1 experimental rocket plane, in which he became the first human to fly faster than the speed of sound in 1947, shortly after the founding of the U.S. Air Force as a separate service... MORE

Famed test pilot, retired Brig. Gen. Charles E. “Chuck” Yeager has died, Dec. 7. He was 97.

Ultra-low cost simulation program augments pilot training
December 9, 2020 — The Joint Immersive Training System — a simulation program that can be installed on ordinary computers and laptops — is currently being used to support pilot training... MORE

A woman in a military flight suit operates an aircraft simulator. A replica of the cockpit can be seen on the flight simulator monitor.

Air Force restores leave charged during restriction of movement
December 9, 2020 — Effective Nov. 20, the Department of the Air Force announced the ability to restore leave charged to members during a required restriction of movement after Aug. 6... MORE

The Department of the Air Force is seeing its highest retention levels in 20 years, second only to rates recorded shortly after 9/11 in 2002.

Air Force moves physical fitness assessments to April 2021, removes waist measurement from composite score permanently
December 7, 2020 — To ensure social distancing practices remain in place during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, and to give Airmen and Space Professionals time to prepare, testing was delayed from October to January and is now further delayed to April... MORE

To continue minimizing close contact among personnel during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and ensure units and personnel are fully ready to resume, physical fitness testing has been delayed from October to January 2021. Testing in January will proceed without obtaining waist, height and weight measurements.

Air Force hits record retention levels, reviews voluntary force management efforts
December 7, 2020 — The Department of the Air Force is seeing its highest retention levels in 20 years, second only to rates recorded shortly after 9/11 in 2002... MORE

Air Force Services Center debuts Air Force Gaming
November 27, 2020 — Air Force Gaming made its official debut Nov. 11 under the Air Force Services Center with a new intramural e-sports program... MORE

Air Force Gaming made its official debut on 11 November, under the Air Force Services Center with a new intramural e-sports program.

Rated Preparatory Program now accepting applications for FY21 spring class
November 23, 2020 — Active duty Department of the Air Force officers and enlisted Airmen and Space Professionals interested in becoming a rated officer have until Dec. 31, 2020 to apply for the Spring 2021 Rated Preparatory Program... MORE

Active duty Department of the Air Force officers and enlisted Airmen and Space Professionals interested in becoming a rated officer have until Dec. 31, 2020 to apply for the Spring 2021 Rated Preparatory Program.

AF restores military tuition assistance cap, AF COOL funding
November 22, 2020 — The Department of the Air Force restored military tuition assistance to $4,500 per fiscal year and Air Force Credentialing Opportunities Online preparatory course funding for the fiscal year 2021, effective immediately... MORE

Department of the Air Force selects six candidate locations for US Space Command Headquarters
November 20, 2020 — The Department of the Air Force, on behalf of the Office of Secretary of Defense, has selected six candidate locations for the U.S. Space Command Headquarters. Port San Antonio is amongst the nominated locations... MORE

U.S. Space Command Basing Nomination Promo

Air Force releases 'Red Tail Angels' docuseries
November 11, 2020 — “The Red Tail Angels” documentary series showcases the hardships, struggles and ultimately the successes of the Tuskegee Airmen... MORE

“The Red Tailed Angels” documentary series, which showcases the hardships, struggles and ultimately the successes of the Tuskegee Airmen, is now live on the Air Force Blue Tube channel. (U.S. Air Force graphic)

Rated Preparatory Program now accepting applications for FY21 spring class
November 9, 2020 — Active duty Department of the Air Force officers and enlisted Airmen and Space Professionals interested in becoming a rated officer have until Dec. 31, 2020 to apply for the Spring 2021 Rated Preparatory Program... MORE

Vice Chief’s Challenge creates new document templates, saves Airmen time
November 9, 2020 — The 2020 Vice Chief’s Challenge launched in February with a focus on working faster and smarter, and finding innovative ways to give Airmen back their time. ... MORE

The 2020 Vice Chief’s Challenge launched in February with a focus on working faster and smarter, and finding innovative ways to give Airmen back their time.

Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey helps civilians voice their opinions
October 1, 2020 — The Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey is a government-wide, Office of Personnel Management administered annual survey that Air Force civilian employees have been participating in since 2006 and will be available until Oct. 28... MORE

The Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey will be available for Air Force civilian employees until Oct. 28.

Updates to Air Force dress, appearance regulation affect hair length
October 1, 2020 — Following the Department of the Air Force’s initial review, a diverse panel of Total Force Airmen completed a second review of Air Force grooming and appearance guidance in order to enhance inclusiveness while maintaining Department of the Air Force professional standards... MORE

The Department of the Air Force has made additional updates to its dress and appearance regulations,

Air Force releases new military tuition assistance approach for FY21
September 29, 2020 — Department of the Air Force officials announced a $3,750 military tuition assistance cap per fiscal year that will go into effect for college courses beginning Oct. 1... MORE

Department of the Air Force officials announced a $3,750 military tuition assistance cap per fiscal year that will go into effect for college courses beginning Oct. 1.

First DRIVE program candidate placed into civil service
September 29, 2020 — Elizabeth Ross, an Oklahoma State University graduate with a degree in zoology and former Airman, was recently hired as an animal caretaker with the Military Working Dog Center, 341st Training Squadron at JBSA-Lackland through the DRIVE Program. ... MORE

'The Air Force Starts Here' podcast highlights AFCLC Language, Regional Expertise and Culture Symposium
September 28, 2020 — A sneak peek into “Women, Peace and Security,” a scheduled presentation at Air University’s upcoming Language, Regional Expertise and Culture Symposium is highlighted on the latest episode of "The Air Force Starts Here," released Sept. 24... MORE

"The Air Force Starts Here" is Air Education and Training Command's professional development podcast. The professional development podcasts are designed to help communicate and inform Total Force Airmen across the globe on relevant, timely topics related to the recruiting, training, education and development fields and can be listened to on the government network on the AETC website, or via mobile application as well as on Apple Podcasts (iTunes). For Android or Google mobile users, the podcast can be found on their favorite third-party podcast phone application. (U.S. Air Force graphic / 1st Lt. Robert Guest)

Hero's Highway -- 13 years down the road
September 21, 2020 — “Protect and return home,” was the motto for retired U.S. Air Force Col. Michael Patronis while serving as the Patient Administration Division lead at the Air Force Theater Hospital, once located on Joint Base Balad, Iraq... MORE

Air Force improves lactation support for nursing mothers
September 17, 2020 — The updated policy, which is effective immediately, increases flexibility with lactation breaks and also mandates access to a refrigerator for the purpose of storing human milk... MORE

A nursing mother assigned to U.S. Space Command uses resources located in the private nursing mother’s room in Building 1, Sept. 11, 2020 at Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado. An Air Force guidance memorandum signed on August 15 2020 details responsibilities and procedural steps to better enable commanders to align the needs of nursing mothers with mission requirements by supporting nursing mothers with a private, secure and clean area within unit facilities. (U.S. Space Force photo by 2nd Lt. Idalí Beltré Acevedo)