This week's photos feature Airmen around the globe involved in activities supporting expeditionary operations and defending America. This weekly feature showcases the men and women of the Air Force. View the slideshow.
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The Air Force will implement the enlisted date of separation rollback program this fiscal year, in addition to several voluntary force management programs that were announced Feb. 5, Air Force Personnel Center officials said today.

The rollback will accelerate the date of separation for senior master sergeants and below who meet required criteria, said Lt. Col. Shelley Strong, AFPC operations division chief. Airmen affected must separate from the Air Force by May 31, and those eligible to retire must do so effective June 1 or earlier.
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Unprecedented budget factors have placed the nation's defense strategy in jeopardy, senior Department of Defense leaders told the Senate Armed Services Committee Feb. 12.
During his opening remarks, the chief of staff of the Air Force stressed the severity of the current fiscal situation.

"Sequestration threatens to carve crucial capability from America's Air Force, with alarming and immediate effects on people, readiness and infrastructure, and, eventually, on modernization," said Gen. Mark A. Welsh III. "If it occurs, it will significantly undermine your Air Force's readiness and responsiveness today."
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I was recently picking up a few items at a local retail chain at lunchtime; everywhere I walked, someone wanted to shake my hand or say, "Thank you for your service." It made me proud to be wearing the uniform of the U.S. Air Force.

While waiting in the checkout lane, I noticed a little boy shopping with his mom was staring at me from his perch in the cart. I smiled and said "Hello," but he just kept staring.

His mom apologized and explained he was crazy about people in uniform, and his hero was Captain America. She said he watches the movie over and over and puts on a little uniform to defend the house.
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Sequestration would leave the Air Force with untrained people, a lack of equipment and be "devastating" to the service, officials said Feb. 7.

The warning echoes what Department of Defense officials have stated for months about across-the-board defense cuts, in addition to an ongoing continuing resolution.

"Now that we're staring at that possibility in less than a month, I can tell you, they were right," said Air Force Vice Chief of Staff, Gen. Larry Spencer, during a media roundtable at the Pentagon.
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This week's photos feature Airmen around the globe involved in activities supporting expeditionary operations and defending America. This weekly feature showcases the men and women of the Air Force.

View the slideshow.

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The Air Force chief of staff published his professional reading list Feb. 1.

In a message on the website, Gen. Mark A. Welsh III said, "We are the world's greatest air force because of our Airmen...and we must continue to strengthen that team."

He asks Airmen to take a look at the list that highlights the Air Force's heritage and fighting spirit, and encourages innovation and forward thinking.

This year's list contains 14 books, seven films, seven TED talks, web-based resources, and for the first time, artwork, music and photography selections.
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The fiscal year 2012 Annual Energy Management Report is making its way to Congress and lawmakers will likely be impressed by Air Force facility energy accomplishments.

The Air Force Civil Engineer Center submitted the report to the Office of the Civil Engineer in November. It has since been sent to the Office of the Secretary of Defense, which will forward the results to the Department of Energy and ultimately Congress.

Highlights from the fiscal 2012 report show the Air Force met all four of its major facility energy and water goals, signed a deal to build its largest solar array to date and developed a Net Zero Implementation Plan.
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The Air Force will implement several voluntary officer and enlisted force management programs for fiscal year 2013, Air Force Personnel Center officials announced today.

Announced in the January release of the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal 2013, the authorized active duty Air Force end-strength is 329,460; a reduction of 3,340 authorized personnel from fiscal 2012. In order to meet congressionally-mandated end-strength by Sept. 30, the Air Force will continue executing its multi-year force management strategy, said Lt. Col. Letitia Marsh, Headquarters Air Force Separation and Retirement Policy Branch chief.
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When the weather forecast calls for tall waves, mean currents and high winds in the Gulf, the last thing most people want to do is jump into it.

For Ray Gallien and Steve Shafer, two of the commercial divers aboard the 82nd Aerial Targets Squadron's three Missile Retriever boats, it sometimes becomes a requirement for the job.

"When you walk out and the seas are coming in and breaking over the stern and you are up there, about to jump in and its pitch black, that is when you have adrenaline rushes," Schafer said. "Even though you have done it many times, it stills worries you because in essence, you are jumping into a black hole. In addition, the lighting off the ship, essentially, blinds you."
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