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AFCEC leads hurricane season preparedness
July 8, 2020 — The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicts the 2020 Atlantic hurricane season that runs from June 1 to Nov. 30 could include 19 named storms and 10 hurricanes – six of which are likely to be classified as major hurricanes... MORE

The “Air Force Be Ready” app features a main menu that includes: emergency phone numbers, websites, a storm preparation checklist, potential storm threats, a customizable family plan and basic preparation suggestions.

Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey helps civilians voice their opinions
July 7, 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. The approximately 100-question survey takes 20 to 30 minutes to complete and is anonymous... MORE

Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey graphic

College students participate in virtual civilian internship
July 6, 2020 — As COVID-19 continues to shape a new normal for Air Force and Space Force operations, several hundred college students virtually on boarded as Air Force civilian service summer interns June 15... MORE

Blue graphic with Air Force's Personnel Center shield and large text across the top reading, "AFCS"

Water safety remains important during a pandemic
July 5, 2020 — Indeed, last summer was the last of its kind for the foreseeable future however, despite this new normal the risks associated with swimming and being around the water remain the same... MORE

USSF field command structure reduces command layers, focuses on space warfighter needs
July 2, 2020 — The Department of the Air Force and the United States Space Force have finalized the new service’s organizational structure for echelons below the headquarters, reflecting the newest branch of the armed forces’ guiding principles of being a lean, agile and mission-focused organization... MORE

The U.S. Space Force organizes, trains, and equips space forces in order to protect and defend U.S. and allied interests in space and to provide space capabilities to the joint force. (U.S. Air Force graphic)

Air Force senior leaders direct IG review into racial disparity
June 29, 2020 — On June 2, 2020, Secretary of the Air Force Barbara M. Barrett, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David L. Goldfein, and Chief of Space Operations Gen. John W. Raymond directed the Department of the Air Force Inspector General to conduct a review into racial disparity in the Department of the Air Force... MORE

Chief Master Sgt. JoAnne S. Bass named 19th Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force
June 19, 2020 — In selecting Bass, incoming Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. CQ Brown said Bass brings skills, temperament and experience that the job requires and an outlook on leadership that meshes with his own... MORE

Chief Master Sgt. JoAnne S. Bass was selected June 19 to become the 19th Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force, becoming the first woman in history to serve as the highest ranking noncommissioned member of a U.S. military service.

SECDEF visits BMT, sees how citizens become Airmen during COVID-19
June 17, 2020 — U.S. Secretary of Defense Mark T. Esper visited U.S. Air Force basic military training cadre and recruits at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, as well as members of the Air Force Recruiting Service, for a first-hand look at how the service transforms citizens into American Airmen June 16... MORE

Tech. Sgt. Kenneth Snow, 323rd Training Squadron military training instructor, briefs U.S. Secretary of Defense Dr. Mark T. Esper during his tour of the 323rd Training Squadron's Airman Training Complex June 16, 2020, at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas. Esper met with AETC leaders to see firsthand how Basic Military Training is fighting through COVID-19 with health protection measures in place and adapting operations to current Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Guidance. The visit also allowed him to witness how a citizen becomes an Airman during COVID-19.

Air Force cancels 2020 Marathon, offers virtual option
June 10, 2020 — Numerous scenarios were explored to produce an event that was safe for all and met the high event standards. All scenarios led the marathon team to conclude the event would be unable to proceed in a manner that participants have come to expect... MORE

Fireworks go off at the start off the Air Force Marathon held on Sept. 21 at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. Fireworks at the start line was added to this year’s marathon to add more excitement and entertainment to the race. (U.S. Air Force photo/Wesley Farnsworth)

Air Force IG directed to independently examine racial disparities in service’s discipline, advancement opportunities
June 10, 2020 — Department of the Air Force Secretary Barbara Barrett and service chiefs, Gen. David Goldfein and Gen. Jay Raymond, have directed the Department of the Air Force Inspector General to independently review the service’s record on military discipline and developmental opportunities for African American Airmen and Space Professionals... MORE

Air Force fitness testing suspended until Oct. 1
May 22, 2020 — The change, which is an update from the original June 1 resume date, is effective immediately. ... MORE

Airmen deployed to the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility will roll physical fitness testing into their wartime responsibilities starting Oct. 1. The new USAFCENT fitness policy will be available soon on AEF Online at https://aef.afpc.randolph.af.mil. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Abner Guzman)

First Airmen graduate BMT proof of concept at Keesler Air Force Base
May 18, 2020 — Due to safety concerns stemming from COVID-19, the Air Force sent new recruits to Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi, to demonstrate a proof of concept to generate the force at multiple locations during contingencies... MORE

Military training instructors lead graduating Airmen onto the drill pad during the basic military training graduation ceremony at Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi, May 15, 2020. Nearly 60 Airmen from the 37th Training Wing Detachment 5 completed the six-week basic military training course. Due to safety concerns stemming from COVID-19, the Air Force sent new recruits to Keesler to demonstrate a proof of concept to generate the force at multiple locations during contingencies. The flight was the first to graduate BMT at Keesler since 1968. (U.S. Air Force photo by Kemberly Groue)

DOD, Department of the Air Force take steps to protect military families moving during COVID-19
May 7, 2020 — Under the new standards, moving industry personnel must adhere to all Centers for Disease Control and Prevention COVID-19 health protection protocols while in the service member’s residence. That means moving personnel must wear face coverings, clean frequently touched surfaces and sanitize their hands often. They must also minimize the number of personnel at the member’s residence in order to meet social distancing requirements... MORE

Watch: Wilford Hall begins in-house COVID-19 testing
April 21, 2020 — Airmen from the 59th Medical Wing have stepped up to the fight against COVID-19 by beginning testing samples taken from patients suspected of having coronavirus... MORE

59th Medical Wing; JPG optimized for print.

AFIMSC enables Air, Space Force to meet COVID-19 challenges
April 21, 2020 — The Air Force Installation and Mission Support Center is leading the effort to keep installations mission ready as the Air Force and Space Force continue operations while contending with the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic... MORE

The Air Force Installation and Mission Support Center has been communicating with mission support group leaders across the Air Force and Space Force using Defense Collaboration Services. The four sessions to date focused on ensuring MSG teams receive the help they need to get through the COVID-19 pandemic while keeping their missions going by providing guidance, funding solutions and expertise to resolve issues. (U.S. Air Force photo by Malcolm McClendon).

Air Force signs agreement for oral fluid coronavirus testing at Air Force installations
April 20, 2020 — The Department of the Air Force signed an agreement April 17 with Curative, Inc., to deploy and scale an oral fluid coronavirus test, which recently received an FDA emergency use authorization, across Air Force installations... MORE

Coronavirus Disease 2019 Rotator Graphic for af.mil. (U.S. Air Force Graphic by Rosario "Charo" Gutierrez)

Special leave accrual for service members
April 20, 2020 — Matthew Donovan, undersecretary of defense for personnel and readiness, signed a department-wide authorization April 6 for service members to accrue and retain an additional leave balance of up to 120 days... MORE

DOD ramps up COVID-19 response efforts from coast to coast
April 11, 2020 — The coronavirus pandemic is slowing down a lot of things, but not the Defense Department’s medical apparatus, which is now operating from coast to coast to bring its medical expertise and capacity to bear on the medical crisis around the nation... MORE

Contracting pros deliver to COVID-19 front lines
April 10, 2020 — The Air Force Installation Contracting Center’s 763rd Specialized Contracting Squadron is one example of mission-focused agility in support of the greater fight, recently delivering a surplus of fast-tracked emergency support to Air Mobility Command in days, if not hours. ... MORE

A U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster III is prepped to transport a transportation isolation system March 6, 2019, during a training exercise that allows Airmen to practice the most effective and safest form of transportation for patients and their medical professionals. Engineered and implemented after the Ebola virus outbreak in 2014, the TIS is an enclosure the Department of Defense can use to safely transport patients with highly contagious diseases. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Cody R. Miller)

Air Force launches year-long leader, supervisor development campaign
April 4, 2020 — On April 1, the Department of the Air Force launched The Leaders and Supervisors We Need, a year-long development campaign designed to improve the efficiency and accessibility of supervisory training and resources for all leaders, ranging from first-time supervisors to experienced senior management officials... MORE