This 2015 Year in Photos feature Airmen around the globe involved in activities supporting expeditionary operations and defending America. This yearly feature showcases the men and women of the Air Force.
We have selected a few of our favorites from the gallery, which you can view fully at:
by Tech. Sgt. Nadine Barclay 432nd Wing/432nd Air Expeditionary Wing
Drones. The once harmless term has taken on new meaning in recent years largely due to misinformation, Hollywood dramatizations and their growing uses in non-military settings. For the men and women of the remotely piloted aircraft enterprise who provide intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance support to combatant commanders around the world 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, dispelling myths associated with their mission is now a top priority.
1. Myth: Drones and RPAs are the same.
2. Myth: RPAs fly themselves.
3. Myth: Military RPAs are used to spy on U.S. civilians.
Additionally, the following guidelines structure how training flights work:
– Training is normally conducted in airspace over and near federal installations and unpopulated training ranges that have been set aside for that purpose.
– Information gathered during training missions that is relayed to ground stations is seldom retained after training operations.
– Any information retained after training missions is deleted shortly afterwards in accordance with regulations (typically no more than 90 days).
– During training missions, pilots and sensor operators are not applying or receiving the analytical support necessary to allow them to use imagery to identify individuals beyond gender and approximate age.
4. Myth: RPAs strike randomly.
5. Myth: RPAs are made from alien technology and are flown from area 51.
6. Myth: RPAs are unmanned and require less manpower to operate.
7. Myth: RPA pilots are just “gamers.”
8. Myth: Everyone in the RPA community suffers from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.
9. Myth: RPA aircrews are not compassionate to the missions they perform.
10. Myth: RPAs will replace manned aircraft
Despite the misconceptions surrounding the RPA enterprise Air Force leadership remain optimistic on the future capabilities RPAs can provide.
“What our RPA professionals are doing in today’s fight and in preparing for future conflicts is simply incredible. RPAs and their operators are in the highest demand from our combatant commanders because of the situational awareness and strike capabilities that they enable. Despite being some of the newest weapon systems in the Air Force inventory, RPAs fulfill critical demands in every theater 24 hours a day, 365 days a year,” said Gen. Hawk Carlisle, Air Combat Command commander.
The energy was electric at Falcon Stadium as 840 cadets graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy May 28, 2015 in Colorado Springs, Colo. Secretary of the Air Force Deborah Lee James presided over the ceremony, and told the new officers that they are the next generation of Air Force leaders, and they will play important roles in the future of the service.
Browse through the photo gallery below to get an inside look at many of the highlights from class of 2015’s graduation.
The U.S. Air Force Academy Class of 2015 graduates in Falcon Stadium in Colorado Springs, Colo., May 28, 2015. Over 800 cadets will walk across the stage and become the newest second lieutenants in the USAF. (U.S. Air Force photo by Mike Kaplan/Released)
The U.S. Air Force Academy Class of 2015 enters the tunnel at Falcon Stadium in Colorado Springs, Colo. May 28, 2015. Over 800 cadets will walk across the stage and become the newest second lieutenants in the USAF. (U.S. Air Force photo by Mike Kaplan/Released)
The U.S. Air Force Academy Class of 2015 enters Falcon Stadium in Colorado Springs, Colo. May 28, 2015. Over 800 cadets will walk across the stage and become the newest second lieutenants in the USAF. (U.S. Air Force photo by Mike Kaplan/Released)
The U.S. Air Force Academy Class of 2015 enters Falcon Stadium in Colorado Springs, Colo., May 28, 2015. Over 800 cadets will walk across the stage and become second lieutenants in the USAF. (U.S. Air Force photo by Bill Evans/Released)
The U.S. Air Force Academy Class of 2015 enters Falcon Stadium in Colorado Springs, Colo., May 28, 2015. Over 800 cadets will cross the stage and become the newest second lieutenants in the USAF. (U.S. Air Force photo by Liz Copan/Released)
Gen. Mark Welsh, Air Force chief of staff enters the U.S. Air Force Academy’s Falcon Stadium as the Class of 2015 prepares to graduate in Colorado Springs, Colo., May 28, 2015. Over 800 cadets will cross the stage and become the newest second lieutenants in the USAF. (U.S. Air Force photo by Lizi Copan/Released)
Debrorah Lee James, Secretary of the Air Force, enters Falcon Stadium at the U.S. Air Force Academy to deliver a commencement address to the Class of 2015 in Colorado Springs, Colo. May 28, 2015. Over 800 cadets will walk across the stage and become the newest second lieutenants in the USAF. (U.S. Air Force photo by Mike Kaplan/Released)
Debrorah Lee James, Secretary of the Air Force, delivers a commencement address to the graduating U.S. Air Force Academy Class of 2015 at Falcon Stadium in Colorado Springs, Colo., May 28, 2015. Over 800 cadets will walk across the stage and become the newest second lieutenants in the USAF. (U.S. Air Force photo by Mike Kaplan/Released)
Debrorah Lee James, secretary of the Air Force, watches the U.S. Air Force Academy Class of 2015 top graduate, senior cadet Rebecca Esselstein salute after receiving her diploma Academy’s Falcon Stadium in Colorado Springs, Colo., May 28, 2015. Over 800 cadets will walk across the stage and become the newest second lieutenants in the USAF. (U.S. Air Force photo by Liz Copan/Released)
By Senior Airman Soo C. Kim
Air Force Public Affairs Agency
Editor’s note: This is part two of a series detailing this author’s experiences at Air Force Basic Military Training and beyond. You can read part one of the series here.
A week and some days have passed since the fateful night we met our campaign-hat-of-doom. Most of us were still shivered at the sight of anything that remotely resembled that hat as if the Grim Reaper himself was staring directly into our soul. But, as the days went by, we slowly adapted to our new lifestyle.
Marching everywhere and avoiding eye contact with anyone who had more than two stripes became the norm. The yelling and push-ups began to sound and feel like loud sage advice and an opportunity to make my less-than-impressive “guns” stronger. Continue reading Adventure to Lackland: Another Day in Paradise→