First lady calls on nation to support military families

First Lady Michelle Obama issued a national challenge today to all sectors of American society: mobilize and take action to support and engage military families."One percent of Americans may be fighting our wars, but we need 100 percent of Americans to support them and their families," the first

First lady invites Guard, Reserve kids to fitness event

Alongside about 80 children of National Guardsmen and reservists, first lady Michelle Obama showed off her dance moves and football-handling prowess yesterday during a "Let's Move" fitness and nutrition event for military families on the White House's South Lawn.The first lady invited the kids to

First lady lauds 'A force of families'

The nation's military is built and sustained on the strength of families, First Lady Michelle Obama told the U.S. Military Academy's Class of 2011 and their families at a banquet last night in West Point, N.Y., on May 20, the eve of graduation ceremonies. No matter where their careers take them,

First lady meets Airmen in Southwest Asia

First lady Laura Bush met more than 40 Airmen from the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing, U.S. Embassy employees and their families Oct. 22 in Southwest Asia. The first lady talked to them about her tour to the region and her interaction with women from the host nation during her tour of the Persian Gulf

First lady plans 'Joining Forces' events

First Lady Michelle Obama will take part in three events over the next several days to promote "Joining Forces," a national initiative that mobilizes all sectors of American society to support service members and their families. The first lady and Dr. Jill Biden, wife of Vice President Joe Biden,

First lady praises troops, families in Germany

For U.S. troops fighting the war on terror, "heroism with a human touch is part of the mission," first lady Laura Bush told troops and their families at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, during a visit Feb. 22.Mrs. Bush traveled to Kaiserslautern, the largest American military community outside the United

First lady samples Food Transformation Initiative at Little Rock

Michelle Obama visited the Hercules Dining Facility here Feb. 9 to survey the food transformation initiative program on base. The visit was part of a three-day tour by the first lady, commemorating the second anniversary of her "Let's Move!" program designed to combat childhood obesity.In addition

First lady speaks on taking care of military families

The first lady today addressed a group of servicemembers and their families here on the importance of taking care of the military family. During her short speech, Michelle Obama praised Air Force leadership for designating this the Year of the Air Force Family program adding it is also a priority of

First Lady strong advocate for improving quality of life

While primarily known as an advocate for education, First Lady Laura Bush is also an advocate for improving the quality of life for servicemembers. During the stopover in Hawaii on their way back to Washington, D.C. Mrs. Bush used the opportunity to meet with servicemembers, retirees and family

First lady touts 'Troops to Teachers' program

The birthplace of aviation became a launching pad for new career possibilities Oct. 16 as first lady Laura Bush spoke here about the Defense Department's Troops to Teachers program.Bush recognized educators and the potential roles departing military members can play in education during a rally

First lady unveils new military spouse hiring effort

First lady Michelle Obama today announced a new hiring effort intended to deliver thousands of portable, flexible job opportunities to military spouses and veterans in the coming years.Eleven companies have pledged more than 15,000 jobs for military spouses and veterans, the first lady said, noting

First Lady urges 'National Day of Service'

First Lady Michelle Obama issued a statement Sept. 10 urging Americans to participate in a "National Day of Service" on the ninth anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the United States.Here is the first lady's statement:Nine years ago, nearly three thousand Americans lost their

First lady urges vets to join volunteer campaign

First lady Michelle Obama urged all Americans, including military veterans, to put their skills to use in volunteer service to assist U.S. communities and citizens in need Nov. 11. "One of the greatest privileges that I have as first lady is the chance to meet with veterans and to meet with

First Lady visits American, British children in London on eve of Olympic competition

Hours before the opening ceremonies of the London 2012 Olympic Games, on the lawn of Winfield House, the residence of the United States Ambassador to the United Kingdom, the games had already begun. Children from youth programs at U.S. Air Force installations in the United Kingdom were invited to

First lady visits Aviano

On her way to the 2006 Winter Olympics, the First Lady of the United States, Laura Bush, visited Aviano Air Base, Italy today. As the head of the official U.S. delegation to the games in Turin, Mrs. Bush traveled here with her daughter, Barbara, and five former Olympic medalists. “These athletes

First lady visits Middle East

First lady visits Pentagon, salutes military families, wounded warriors

First lady Michelle Obama visited the Pentagon April 9 to thank military members, their families and civilians for their ongoing sacrifices in service to the nation.Defense Secretary Robert Gates introduced Mrs. Obama, who emerged before hundreds of spectators in the Pentagon courtyard. "She

First lady visits RAF Mildenhall, meets military families

Military families stationed in the United Kingdom had the opportunity to meet the first lady of the United States on July 29, before she returned home after attending the opening ceremonies of the London 2012 Olympics.Michelle Obama took about 30 minutes here to personally meet more than 150 family

First lady visits, praises troops at Al Udeid AB

The service members at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar, are performing demanding duty without complaint as they represent the United States, first lady Michelle Obama told troops on the base Nov. 3.Joined by late night talk show host Conan O'Brien and other entertainers to perform a USO-style show, Obama

First lady, Dr. Biden kick off Sesame, USO tour

Calling out over thousands of screaming fans, Elmo introduced a few new friends to Sesame Street here April 14.First lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden, the wife of Vice President Joe Biden, stepped onto the auditorium stage and into the arms of Elmo and friends as a crowd of local military and

First lady, Dr. Biden launch 'Community Challenge'

First lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden, the wife of Vice President Joe Biden, recently unveiled a new program intended to celebrate Americans going above and beyond to improve military families' lives.The Joining Forces Community Challenge will award prizes to people and organizations that

First lady, Dr. Biden to launch family-support initiative

First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden, the wife of Vice President Joe Biden, will launch a national initiative tomorrow that will call on all sectors of society to support and honor America's service members and their families.The initiative is intended to educate, challenge and spark action

First lady, Dr. Biden to launch military family awareness campaign

Dr. Jill Biden and first lady Michelle Obama will campaign to raise awareness of military families, the vice president's wife told spouses of National Guard adjutants general Feb. 28."In the coming weeks, we are going to be launching a formal campaign," said Dr. Biden, who hosted the spouses for

First lady, Dr. Biden urge support of military families

First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden, the wife of Vice President Joe Biden, launched an "unprecedented" national initiative April 12 that calls on all sectors of society to join forces to support and honor service members and their families. Flanked by their husbands, the first and second

First lady's priority: Taking care of military families

First lady Michelle Obama was the featured speaker at the Joint Armed Forces Officers' Wives Club's 32nd annual luncheon Jan. 26 at the Bolling Officers Club here.About 400 spouses from all branches of the military gathered to hear Mrs. Obama share her insights on military families, and announce a

First laser test conducted using recycled fuel

The world's first firing of a laser using recycled fuel was conducted at the Air Force Research Laboratory's Directed Energy Directorate recently by an Air Force and Boeing Company team. During the test, conducted at the directorate's Davis Advanced Laser Facility, a chemical laser was supplied with

First look at Wake: Less damage than feared

Members of the 36th Contingency Response Group from Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, completed their initial assessment of Wake Island Sept. 11, finding the island's runway intact and operational with fuel tanks secure, but runway lights are missing and there is minor damage to the fuels transfer

First Luke F-35 student takes to the sky

The 56th Fighter Wing officially began training new F-35 Lightning II pilots when the first student, Brig. Gen. Scott Pleus, the commander of the 56th Fighter Wing, flew the wing's first training sortie March 18.

First Mach flight propels Yeager, Air Force into history

It was just another test mission for Capt. Chuck Yeager. Captain Yeager arrived at Muroc Air Force Base, Calif., the morning of Oct. 14, 1947, for what would be his ninth powered flight piloting the Bell X-1. Each of the previous flights demonstrated incremental speed increases as the aircraft

First Marine graduates Air Force’s F-35 intelligence course

The first Marine Corps officer graduated the Air Force’s F-35 Lightning II Intelligence Formal Training Unit course at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, June 24.

First M-ATVs arrive in Afghanistan

Two mine-resistant, ambush-protected all-terrain vehicles arrived at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, on Oct. 1, after being offloaded from a C-17 Globemaster III. The M-ATVs arrived less than a day after leaving Charleston Air Force Base, S.C., Sept. 30. The M-ATV's are the first of their kind in

First MC-130J training program takes flight

As the first MC-130J Combat Shadow II rolled off the Lockheed Martin factory line, a training flight class recently conducted sorties in preparation for transition to the new airframe.The Air Force Special Operations Training Center's first MC-130J training program flight class practiced air drops,

First meeting held for military-wide Defense Board on Diversity and Inclusion

The board was established by Secretary of Defense Mark Esper as part of the Department of Defense’s efforts to improve diversity, inclusion and equal opportunity for U.S. service members.

First metallic 3D printed part installed on F-22

In December, 574th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron maintainers installed a metallic 3D printed part on an operational F-22 Raptor during depot maintenance at Hill Air Force Base.

First Minotaur IV Lite launches from Vandenberg

Members from the 30th Space Wing here launched the first Minotaur IV Lite launch vehicle at 4 p.m. April 22 here. The rocket carried the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency's Falcon Hypersonic Technology Vehicle 2.The Minotaur family of launch vehicles are provided by the Orbital/Suborbital

First Moroccan F-16 pilots to complete training in Arizona

In July, the Kingdom of Morocco, a strategic partner for U.S. forces in North Africa, will become the 25th country to own and operate F-16s. The pilots tapped to fly them are scheduled to finish training here in time to bring them home, July 30.Four Royal Moroccan Air Force officers, former F-5

First MQ-9 Reaper makes its home on Nevada flightline

The MQ-1 Predator Unmanned Aerial Vehicle's  younger, yet larger and stronger, brother, the MQ-9 Reaper arrived March 13 at its new home at Creech Air Force Base, Nev. The remotely piloted aircraft completed initial testing in California, then flew more than 250 miles in two hours to land here. The

First MQ-9 squadron looks good for 100

From training to operational--bombers to remotely piloted aircraft, the Panthers of the 42nd Attack Squadron have been a key part of United States airpower for the past 100 years. On June 13, 2017, the squadron celebrates its centennial anniversary with a lineage as the 42nd Aero Squadron, part of

First next-generation communications satellite launches

The Air Force launched the first of a next generation of military communications satellites from here Oct. 10 at 8:22 p.m. EDT, when a United Launch Alliance Atlas V booster carried a Wideband Global SATCOM satellite into space. WGS is the nation's next-generation wideband satellite communications

First nurse serves as director of ANG Medical Service Office of the Air Surgeon

Rohatasch is the first clinical nurse to assume command of the ANG Office of the Air Surgeon and brings nearly four decades of medical experience to the position.

First Officer Training School-Victory graduates take flight

OTS-V provides a competency-based course designed to develop warrior-minded leaders of character committed to the Air Force oath, values and creed.

First operational F-35A squadron receives final aircraft

The 34th Fighter Squadron and 34th Aircraft Maintenance Unit at Hill Air Force Base accepted its final two combat-coded F-35A Lightning lls June 21, 2017.

First operational F-35As arrive at Hill AFB

The Air Force ushered in a new era of combat air power today as Hill Air Force Base received the service's first two operational F-35As.Hill's active duty 388th Fighter Wing and Reserve 419th Fighter Wing will be the first combat-coded units to fly and maintain the Air Force's newest

First OTS hand-to-hand combat-trained class graduates

First Partner Nation Silver Flag concludes at Andersen AFB

After spending more than a week sharing civil engineering techniques, 54 engineers from the U.S. Air Force, Royal Australian Air Force, Republic of Singapore Air Force, South Korean air force and Japan Air Self-Defense Force concluded the Partner Nation Silver Flag exercise Feb. 19 at Andersen Air

First phase of legal complex nears completion

The first phase of a $10.2 million project to construct the expeditionary legal complex here inches closer to completion as Air Guard civil engineers put their finishing touches on its various structures. With a scheduled phase one completion date of Jan. 15, Lt. Col. James Starnes, commander of the

First phase of Reserve mobility exercise concludes

More than 150 Individual Ready Reservists finished a week-long active duty tour June 22 at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas. The five-day tour of duty was the conclusion of the "Push" portion of the "Push-Pull 2007" exercise. The exercise tests and evaluates the IRR mobilization process, said Lt. Col.

First piece of Air Force memorial placed

Construction crews raised the first piece of the Air Force Memorial here on top of a hill overlooking Arlington National Cemetery. The 40-foot long piece of stainless steel, which weighs more than 28 tons, is the first of 15 pieces to be placed. When completed, the memorial will be 270 feet tall.

First pipeline F-35 crew chiefs graduate

Nine Airmen became the first Air Force recruits to graduate initial skills technical training as F-35 Lightning II crew chiefs after completing Mission-Ready Airmen training here Aug. 7."The opportunity to be the first of something so important means a lot. I know many people are looking at us to be

First Predator strike takes out anti-air threat

A U.S. Air Force MQ-1 Predator found and destroyed a radar-guided anti-aircraft artillery gun in southern Iraq March 22 making it the first Predator strike of Operation Iraqi Freedom, defense officials announced.The multirole Predator used one AGM-114K "Hellfire II" missile to strike an Iraqi

First production C-5M arrives at Dover

The first production C-5M Super Galaxy arrived for duty at Dover Air Force Base Nov. 5.  Gen. Raymond E. Johns Jr., commander of Air Mobility Command, flew the Super Galaxy from Stewart Air National Guard Base, N.Y., to its operational home at Dover AFB."The creativity and hard work demonstrated

First production Global Hawk rolls out

The first production RQ-4A Global Hawk unmanned aerial vehicle rolled out in ceremonies held Aug. 1 at prime contractor Northrop Grumman’s Antelope Valley Manufacturing Center at Air Force Plant 42 in Palmdale, Calif. Drawing back a large curtain, program officials unveiled Global Hawk in its

First Raptor arrives at Tyndall

The first operational F/A-22 Raptor was delivered to the Air Force’s F/A-22 schoolhouse here Sept. 26. Tyndall, once known as “The Home of Air Superiority” became “The Home of Air Dominance,” with the arrival of its first F/A-22. The Raptor will eventually replace the F-15 Eagle and sets the

First RED HORSE training squadron up, ready to run

This is the Air Force’s first RED HORSE training squadron, their mission is developing and delivering integrated, realistic training and exercises to combat support teams.

First refueling unit to reach 25,000 missions in single AOR

Members of the 22nd Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron here reached a milestone of 25,000 air refueling missions May 4.During the past year, 22nd EARS sortie support has grown 23 percent, allowing them to quickly eclipse the 25,000th mission mark."Like their squadron mascot, the mule, the 22nd

First Reserve unit conducts TASER training

The 482nd Security Forces Squadron here recently became the first unit in the Air Force Reserve Command to complete training with TASER guns, adding a new, nonlethal option to their arsenal. Security forces members must undergo extensive training to be qualified to carry a TASER. Training includes

First responders save trapped Airmen during Typhoon Neoguri

Two 18th Security Forces Squadron response force members were rescued by a team of first responders while on duty here during Super Typhoon Neoguri, which struck the western coast of Okinawa, Japan, July 7-9.

First responders train to support airport

Members of the 8th Civil Engineer Squadron fire department here participated in Gunsan airport's G-20 summit on terrorism and civil aviation air incident training at the airport Sept. 17.According to airport officials, the exercise tested the "cooperative and emergency response systems" of the

First Rivet Joint delivered to the Royal Air Force

The first of three RC-135 Rivet Joint aircraft was officially delivered to the U.K. during a special ceremony at Royal Air Force Waddington, England, Nov. 12.

First security guardsmen dispatched into missile fields

Officials at the Minot-based 219th Security Forces Squadron of the North Dakota Air National Guard's 119th Wing have dispatched security Airmen into the missile fields at Minot Air Force Base for the first time. "Putting guardsmen into the field to work side by side with the active duty is a

First senior enlisted in-residence students near graduation at AWC

The first group of enlisted Airmen to attend Air University’s Air War College in-residence at Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama, is close to graduating from the Air Force’s top school for officer professional military education.

First Senior Enlisted Leader Summit to convene

The Air Force's senior enlisted leader convenes the first Senior Enlisted Leader Summit at Gunter Annex here July 22 to 27. This year, Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force Rodney J. McKinley expanded the list of invitees to include professional military education commandants, career field managers

First Sergeant Academy curriculum, organization mirrors total force

The life of an Air Force first sergeant is truly a tale of two experiences. There exists the joy of watching Airmen receive well-deserved promotions and recognition, and there is the disappointment and sadness at receiving a 3 a.m. phone call from a law enforcement desk or casualty affairs. These

First Sergeant Academy embraces blended learning

The U. S. Air Force First Sergeant Academy has transformed its curriculum from a traditional "brick-and-mortar" education experience to a mixture of facilitated distance learning and in-resident classroom time to teach future first sergeants. What was once a three-week in-residence course is now

First Sergeant Academy to increase course length, improve skills

The Air Force’s First Sergeant Academy is increasing resident class length to four weeks to help fuel the chief of staff of the Air Force’s initiative to revitalize squadrons.

First Sergeant Academy transfers position to Air University's Eaker Center

The U.S. Air Force First Sergeant Academy transferred to the Ira C. Eaker Center for Leadership Development from the Thomas N. Barnes Center for Enlisted Education, effective Oct. 1.

First sergeant award nomination deadline nears

Air Force officials reminded Airmen today that 2013 First Sergeant of the Year award nominations are due to the Air Force Personnel Center by April 2. Established by the Air Force, the award recognizes the important contributions and leadership qualities exhibited by Air Force members in the first

First sergeant changes benefit entire AF

Air Force officials are touting recent changes made to first sergeant assignments and hope that more senior noncommissioned officers take advantage of what some are calling "the best job I've ever had in the Air Force."The Air Force converted the career field into a special-duty assignment in

First Sergeant continues career after tumor, hearing loss

More than ten years ago, while stationed in Hawaii, Master Sgt. Geoffrey VanDyck, had the constant feeling of water in his ear. He knew something was wrong. Nothing seemed to relieve the feeling, so his medical provider sent him to an ear, nose and throat specialist. After an MRI, the cause of his

First sergeant provides health, welfare for warriors

General health, esprit de corps, discipline, mentoring, well-being, career progression, professional development and recognition of all assigned Airmen and their families is all a part of the mission of an Air Force first sergeant -- taking care of people.

First sergeant steps up in time of need

On Jan. 3, Alec Fonoti, a mechanic for the quartermaster laundry here, was preparing dinner with his family to take to a friend's house. With the meal packed, the family of nine loaded everything into their vehicle and left."The fire report said the burner on the left was still slightly on," Fonoti

First sergeant testifies to seatbelt safety

When Master Sgt. Thomas Dunlap buckled his seatbelt after climbing into his truck recently, he was not thinking about personal-risk management. He was simply doing what came naturally after years of accident-free driving.But as the 436th Services Squadron first sergeant crawled out of his wrecked

First sergeant to join stateside walk from deployed location

Sometimes she walks or runs with a friend, and then she's got someone to talk with and motivate her. But many times she walks with just her music and her thoughts, and it allows her to remember just what she's walking for.Master Sgt. Laurie Cherry, the 727th Expeditionary Air Control Squadron first

First sergeants deploy, discover family members

Sleep-deprived and weary from days of travel, in a blur of new names and faces, one of the first people most Airmen deploying to the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing meet is their respective unit’s first sergeant.

First sergeants to supervisors: Here are 4 things you should know

There are approximately 2,600 active-duty Airmen assigned to Fairchild Air Force Base and only nine fully trained, diamond-wearing first sergeants on duty.That's a little more than 280 Airmen to one first shirt. This proportion is not uncommon at most bases around the command and the Air Force.

'First shirt' recycles OCPs for Bagram Airmen

Every U.S. Air Force first sergeant is responsible for making sure their Airmen's uniforms are in good order, but one first sergeant here has taken this charge a step further.Master Sgt. Nicholas Kollett, the first sergeant for the 455th Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, developed and

First shirts find value in ANG 'warrior network'

When Chief Master Sgt. Michael Kennedy wanted to communicate to more than 800 first sergeants across the Air National Guard as their functional manager this week he turned to the I.G. Brown Training and Education Center.The Center told him, no problem.Its Media Engagement Division and "Warrior

'First shirts' use tough love, care for troops

It is 2 a.m. and pitch black outside when suddenly the phone rings and the voice on the other end says an airman needs help.The first sergeant gets up and prepares for an early day. This is not new; it is part of the job, and could mean anything from a car accident to domestic violence or other

First shuttle trainer introduced by NASA astronauts

NASA Astronauts Michael Good and Michael Foreman visited the National Museum of the Air Force during a private event to formally introduce the first shuttle Crew Compartment Trainer (CCT-1) to military and community officials and preview the next steps for the exhibit. The event marked the debut of

First simulated F-35A deployment conducted at Mountain Home AFB

A much anticipated and important test mission for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter Program is underway with the "deployment" of six operational test and evaluation F-35s and more than 85 Airmen from the 31st Test and Evaluation Squadron, who arrived Feb. 8-9.

First snow

First Spangdahlem jets return home from desert duty

Six F-16 Fighting Falcons returned home to Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, on Labor Day after a two-and a half month deployment to Southwest Asia. The fighter jets, of the 23rd Fighter Squadron, spent their deployment providing close-air support to coalition forces in Iraq and Afghanistan, 52nd

First steps of future Airmen

First students graduate Raptor Basic Course

Four student pilots at Tyndall AFB became the first graduates of the Air Force's F-22 Raptor Basic Course Nov. 1, setting another milestone in the fielding of the Air Force's most advanced fighter aircraft. These pilots are the first in the Air Force to have the F-22 as their first operational

First T-7A Red Hawk rolls out

The first T-7A Red Hawk training aircraft rolled off the production line at the Boeing Defense, Space & Security building at Lambert International Airport.

First Term Airmen Courses receive curriculum overhaul

The Air Force has rolled out a new First Term Airmen Course dedicated to developing Airmen as next-generation leaders.

First Term Airmen's Center helps with transition into Air Force

Training and professional development is a high priority, beginning for young Airmen at Basic Military Training, tech school and continues at the first duty station training at the First Term Airmen's Center. FTAC is a two-week program that plays an important role in transitioning Airmen from a

First test of 'Net Decoy' system shows promise

The airmen of the 100th Communications Squadron here hosted the first-ever demonstration of the pioneering "Net Decoy" system, combining two defensive information systems that detect, track and potentially identify cyberspace intruders.During the latter part of August the Air Force Information

First Thunderbird commander dies

The first commander of the U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron, the Thunderbirds, died Aug. 12 of complications from pneumonia. Maj. Gen. Richard C. Catledge, the Air Force pilot known as Thunderbird One, formed and led the original Thunderbirds team as a major in 1953. "We were assigned a

First time for AFMC at Red Flag exercise

The 416th Flight Test Squadron conquered the vast bombing and gunnery ranges of Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., as they participated in Red Flag 09-2, marking the first time an Air Force Materiel Command unit has ever deployed and participated in the exercise. "Red Flag allowed us to provide the most

First Time: 173rd Fighter Wing hosts secretary of the Air Force

Secretary of the Air Force Heather Wilson visited the 173rd Fighter Wing Nov. 3-4, 2018, marking the first visit by a sitting secretary since Kingsley Field Air National Guard Base, Oregon opened its gates during World War II.

First Transit Center commander reflects on decade of change

Even in his wildest dreams, he never could have envisioned what he started 10 years ago would turn into what he sees now. But when the Transit Center's first commander, then-Brig. Gen. Chris Kelly, landed on Runway 08 at the Manas International Airport on Dec. 16, 2001, he saw potential of what this

First two enlisted pilots complete solo flights

Two Air Force master sergeants became the first enlisted Airmen in six decades to complete solo flights during Initial Flight Training at the 1st Flying Training Squadron Nov. 3.

First U.S.-trained Afghan helicopter pilots begin Mi-17 qualification course

The first two Afghan air force helicopter pilots to complete basic pilot training in the U.S. recently began the initial Mi-17 qualification course meant to convert them into Mi-17 helicopter pilots at the Afghan air force base in Kabul. A hybrid of Croatian and U.S. helicopter training syllabi, the

First Undergraduate Pilot Training 2.5 class graduates

Instructors from the 559th Flying Training Squadron implemented training for Air Education and Training Command’s first UPT 2.5 class, which began in July 2020. Using the T-6A Texan II as the primary trainer aircraft, the first class completed training in only seven months.

First unit marshal arming area operational

The 436th CS is the first squadron in the Air Force to create its own arming area in support of the UMP.

First unmanned QF-16 flight takes place

The QF-16 full scale aerial target's inaugural unmanned flight occurred Sept. 19.

First USAF F-35A takes overseas flight to England

The Air Combat Command F-35A Heritage Flight team accomplished America’s first transatlantic flight in an F-35A Lightning II, with refueling support from a KC-10 Extender, when it touched down June 30 at Royal Air Force Fairford, England.

First Vietnamese student graduates from US Aviation Leadership Program

ALP is a U.S. Air Force-funded program, providing students of partner and developing countries with undergraduate pilot training scholarships.

First virtual pitch day contract awarded

U.S. Air Forces in Europe and Air Forces Africa A8I Operational Innovation Branch and the 764th Enterprising Solutions Squadron awarded their first virtual Pitch Day contract, Dec. 13.