Educate Advocate Support 1

Air Force Association

Name

Position, AFA

Organization Being AddressedDate

Educate Advocate Support 2

The Air Force Today

• Engaged in continuous warfighting 20+ years

Threat less clear; difficult to know who the enemy is

Interoperability and jointness are key to success•Force structure negatively impacted by:

13 Years of War with little funding for modernization

Budget Control Act of 2011•Budget dollars are scarce

Economic crises affects national security environment

Educate Advocate Support 3

The Force Behind the Force

The Air Force Association is a nonprofit organization promoting public understanding of

aerospace power and its role in national defense.

100,000 members, 200 chapters.

Older than the Air Force itself, founded in 1946 to create an independent Air Force.

Educate Advocate Support 4

•Educate the public about the critical role of aerospace power in the defense of our nation

•Advocate aerospace power and a strong national defense

•Support the US Air Force, the Air Force Family and aerospace education

AFA’s Mission

Educate Advocate Support 5

EDUCATE

Educate Advocate Support 6

•Daily Report—daily news items regarding the Air Force keeping members informed and up to date

•Air Force Magazine—monthly publication dedicated to covering top issues in the Air Force and national security

•Conferences and Symposia- Air & Space in Washington, DC

- Air Warfare in Orlando, FL

•Letters to Senate and House members signed by AFA leadership and Retired Air Force Commanders on AFA position on multiple issues

•Statement of Policy—highlighting AFA’s position on top issues.

What We Do

Educate Advocate Support 7

• Hill Visits—an active government relations department regularly visits Capitol Hill to educate congressional members on top Air Force/national security issues.

• Airpower Advocates Program—dedicated members • Mitchell Hour for Aerospace Studies—independent,

non-profit research, studies, and analysis organization found

• AFA Monthly Breakfast Series—a monthly series that provides a venue for senior Air Force and Department of Defense leaders to communicate directly with the public and the press

• Notes From AFA—emails from senior AFA staff giving updates on AFA National operations

What We Do

Educate Advocate Support 8

ADVOCATE

Educate Advocate Support 9

Legislative Accomplishments

•Testified before SASC on personnel cuts and spending•Won two-year relief to sequestration-driven $485 billion cut in 10-year defense budget

• Repealed 1% CoLA cut for working-age retirees•Testified before the Military Compensation and Retirement Modernization Commission

•Supported numerous provisions or reforms to the Uniform Code of Military Justice related to combating sexual assault in the military and protected commander’s authority regarding felony offenses

Educate Advocate Support 10

Legislative Accomplishments

• Participated in SecDef roundtables resulting in furthering the AFA mission balancing readiness and cuts

• Participated in Congressional roundtables• Promoted Congressional Gold Medal for Doolittle Raiders• Promoted Distinguish Flying Cross Memorial• Won approval for restoration of former Clark Air Force Base, Philippines, by American Battle Monuments Commission

Educate Advocate Support 11

SUPPORT

Educate Advocate Support 12

AFA Accomplishments

12 Outstanding Airmen of the Year Program• Created to recognize the men and women the country could not

afford” to adequately compensate for their outstanding service to our nation

The Community College of the Air Force•AFA funds scholarships and grants for spouses and other family members of the USAF

The Air Force Memorial (AFM)•AFA created the Air Force Memorial Foundation•Raised the private funds to build the Memorial

Educate Advocate Support 13

Wounded Airman Program—helps with quality of life and needs of Wounded Airmen as they transition into communities with locally based chapter outreach.

CyberPatriot National Youth Cyber Program—engages, excites, and educates today’s youth toward STEM careers and activities

Educator Grants—promotes aerospace education activities in classrooms from kindergarten through twelfth grades.

Spouse & Family Forum—annual discussion that focuses on strengthening the Air Force family

Educate Advocate Support 14

What AFA is Doing

“…our Air Force belongs to those who come from ranks of labor, management, the farms, the stores, the professions

and colleges and legislative halls…Air Power will always be the business of every American citizen.”

- General Henry ‘Hap’ Arnold

Educate Advocate Support 15

AFA is working for Americans every day. We need your help to tell the Air Force

story.

The Force Behind The Force

www.afa.org