Six years after beginning as an annual base-level exercise at Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz., Angel Thunder, the first US military personnel recovery exercise, attained official Defense Department accreditation. “This is a David and Goliath story of an exercise being founded by rescue airmen in the trenches because what we needed was not in the system,” said Brett Hartnett, exercise coordinator. Air Combat Command once again sponsored this year’s exercise, which included 46 aircraft and more than 1,000 personnel from 17 countries. Its sponsorship paved the way for Joint National Training Capability certification on Nov. 30. “With no budget, we built the world’s largest and most dynamic rescue exercise in our spare time. In turn, ACC recognized our success and made us their official personnel recovery exercise,” summed Hartnett. JNTC credentials affirm that the exercise offers a consistent standard of quality training each year. (Davis-Monthan report by A1C Saphfire Cook)
How Miss America 2024 Took the Air Force Somewhere New
Dec. 20, 2024
When 2nd Lt. Madison Marsh became the first ever active service member crowned Miss America on Jan. 14, top Air Force officials recognized a rare opportunity to reach women and girls who otherwise might not consider military service as an option.