April President’s Note

April 14, 2020

April President’s Note

Airmen for Life!

Thank you!! Your active participation in your Air Force Association is defeating one of the most challenging worldwide assaults on our Department of the Air Force and Families in the history of our association. Despite the challenges of the COVID-19 operating environment, our AFA mission to support dominant U.S. Air and Space Forces and our Airmen, Space professionals and their Families is being sustained by your General James Doolittle Leadership Center staff – every member a leader.

Across our Air Force Association, the Doolittle Leadership Center is working closely with our outstanding Board of Directors and nation-wide volunteer leadership to aggressively mobilize to meet the needs of our U.S. Air Force and Space and AFA members. We’re ramping up efforts to deliver vital assistance, virtual professional development opportunities, and timely and reliable news and information.

We have formed the COVID-19 Airman’s Assistance Fund (CAAF) to take care of Airmen in the Air and Space Forces, veterans, and family members impacted by this killer virus. AFA also continues to support our 8,400 wounded, ill, and injured Airmen enrolled in AFA’s Wounded Airman Program with Emergency Assistance Grants, often within 24 hours of receiving a request. We’re committed to keeping our Air Force family strong.

Our Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies quickly transitioned from live, in-person events to weekly virtual Aerospace Nation events, kicking them off with CSAF Goldfein and CSO Gen Jay Raymond over the past 10 days. These video interviews provide vital professional development opportunities for Air and Space Professionals and informative and encouraging outlets for Air Force and Space Force leaders to tell their story and get out their message.

AFA’s Air Force Magazine is delivering exceptional coverage of our Air and Space Forces and continuous COVID-19 updates for everyone in the Air and Space Force family. Our comprehensive and exhaustive reporting is telling the story of Airmen defending our nation, 24×7 across the globe.

This past month has challenged all of us across our great nation. But it has been inspiring to see our Airmen, Space Professionals, and their Families rise to the occasion. Last week I went to the Pentagon in the hopes I could raise some of their morale, but let me tell you, it was absolutely the other way around. To see these young people, as well as leaders like our Vice Chief of Staff General Steve “Seve” Wilson, doing the nation’s business left me inspired.

Our Airmen are flying sorties, on alert, intercepting intruders, delivering vital supplies, setting up emergency hospitals, providing vital medical care, and answering the nation’s call from coast to coast and around the globe. The mission is far from over and we will continue to be in the fight for weeks to come. We are truly an Aerospace Nation—where air, space and cyber are critical to our way of life in peace, war and unexpected crisis!

We are grateful to Congress for its quick action in passing the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, which will help so many in need. You can help too. One of its provisions allows Individuals who do not itemize deductions to now deduct up to $300 in cash contributions to nonprofits on their 2020 tax returns. For many, it’s a chance to give and save at the same time. If your financial situation allows, please consider a donation to AFA–and help us help Airmen in need.

AFA is on your wing. We are all in this together.

-Orville Wright