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  • America Needs a “Dead Hand”

    America’s nuclear command, control, and communications (NC3) system comprises many component systems that were designed and fielded during the Cold War — a period when nuclear missiles were set to launch from deep within Soviet territory, giving the United States sufficient time to react. That era is over. Today, Russian and Chinese nuclear modernization is rapidly compressing the time U.S. leaders will have to detect a nuclear launch, decide on a course of action, and direct a response.
  • U.S. Air Force Capt. Dan Hochhalter, 24th Training Squadron member, stands in front of the Officer Training School building on Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama.

    Instructor Duty: Times are Changing

    Thick skin. Selfless perspective. Fearless leadership. When asked what I wanted my officer trainees to leave Officer Training School with, these three concepts defined my expectations.

  • SNCOs: Mentor Future Commanders!

    “More is caught, than taught.” This common colloquialism rings true for individual development. Regardless of your tenure in the Top 3, if you have just sewn on master sergeant, or are a chief master sergeant hitting high year tenure, senior NCOs shape tomorrow’s joint leaders. We set the example for what we want to see in emerging leaders and provide the template with our actions.
  • Retired Master Sgt. Joann Green talks about her experience with Community College of the Air Force. Master Sgt. Green completed her degree and is appreciative that the Air Force gave her this opportunity. (Courtesy Photo)

    My advanced education journey started with CCAF

    My educational journey started after talking to a guidance counselor at the education office at Bergstom AFB, Texas. The counselor provided excellent information regarding the Community College of the Air Force. She explained that since I had just completed technical training school for the military personnel career field, all I needed were about 10 classes to obtain my associate degree in the field. She also provided a road map on what courses I needed to complete to reach this goal.
  • Field Manual 100-20: The ‘Declaration of Independence’ for tactical airpower

    Field Manual 100-20: The ‘Declaration of Independence’ for tactical airpower

    On February 14, 1943, Field Marshal Erwin Rommel, commander of the German Afrika Korps in North Africa, launched a major offensive against Allied positions at the Kasserine Pass in Tunisia, North Africa. Within days, the rapid advance of the Afrika Korps, supported by German aircraft, nearly overran the entire Allied position, including several forward airfields, in Tunisia. This battle became the first major defeat of U.S. forces in Africa.
  • “Remembering the victims of the Holocaust”

    “Remembering the victims of the Holocaust”

    Between January 1933, when Adolph Hitler became Chancellor of Germany, and Germany’s surrender on May 7, 1945, the Nazi regime and its collaborators caused the deaths of between five and six million European Jews, one-third of the pre-1939 Jewish population of the world. To remember the victims of the Holocaust and other genocides since 1945, the
  • Air University historian supports major regional Civil Air Patrol event

    Air University historian supports major regional Civil Air Patrol event

    Recently, in my positon as the Director of Aerospace Education for the Alabama Wing Civil Air Patrol (CAP), I had the pleasure of hosting two major exhibits at the “Worlds of Work” job fair at the National Peanut Festival Fairgrounds, Dothan, Alabama.  During this two-day event, several thousand eighth-grade CAP cadets from southeast Alabama,

  • Who can concealed carry on base?

    The commander of the 42nd Air Base Wing, Col. Eric Shafa, has authorized the concealed carry of privately owned firearm by qualified law enforcement officers and qualified retired or separated law enforcement officers who are Law Enforcement Officer Safety Act, or LEOSA, credentialed individuals. Additionally, credentialed civilian law enforcement

  • Maxwell Air Force Base and the 42nd Air Base Wing through the Years

    Maxwell Air Force Base is one of the most historic Air Force bases that is still in active status.  Its history spans over a century of aviation in Central Alabama from the Wright Brothers to today.  Since April 1918, a 100 years ago, when the “Air Force” presence began as Aircraft and Engine Depot #3, the base has provided a significant and
  • Elements of the 97th Bomb Group, Eighth Air Force, arrived at Royal Air Force High Wycombe, England on May 12, 1942. On August 17, 1942, three months later, 12 B-17s from the 97 BG, led by then Major Paul Tibbets, carried out the first high altitude AAF heavy bomber raid over Europe against the railroad marshalling yards at Rouen-Sotteville, France.

    Maxwell and the Advent of High Altitude Bombing in Europe during World War II

    Soon after the United States entered World War II, the U.S. Army Air Forces began building up its air forces in Britain. Elements of the 97th Bomb Group, Eighth Air Force, arrived at Royal Air Force High Wycombe, England on May 12, 1942. On August 17, 1942, three months later, 12 B-17s from the 97 BG, led by then Major Paul Tibbets, carried out the first high altitude AAF heavy bomber raid over Europe against the railroad marshalling yards at Rouen-Sotteville, France. The operation was a success as half the bombs landed in the target area and only one of the twelve aircraft sustained minor damage and the raid convinced the British of the ability of American heavy bombers to successfully carry out missions over Europe.
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