Commander's Call topics for Friday Feb. 3, 2012

Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page http://content.govdelivery.com/bulletins/gd/USDODAF-2da366.

http://content.govdelivery.com/bulletins/gd/USDODAF-2da366?reqfrom=share

Commander's Call Topics

*Feb. 3, 2012*

""We will be a smaller but superb force that maintains our agility, our flexibility and readiness to engage a full range of contingencies and threats." "Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz following the Defense Department's major budget decisions http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123287802 briefings Jan. 26.**

* *

* *

* *

*►CURRENT ISSUES***

African Americans in aviation history profiled during February http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123287863**

After more than a decade into the 21st century, our Air Force today is made up of a mix of ethnic backgrounds -- people who work together for common goals and missions. But throughout our history, even throughout much of the 20th century, that hasn't always been the case.

Official outlines absentee voting options http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123288387

Federal officials are urging military members, their families and other Americans living outside the U.S. to register to vote and request an absentee ballot.**

* *

AF concludes military transfer case photo investigation http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123288069**

The investigation of the 345th Training Squadron's Air Transportation Course class graduation photograph concluded recently.

SecAF releases statement on OSC report http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123288027**

Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley released a statement Jan. 31 regarding the Office of Special Counsel's report concerning the investigation into reprisals against the whistleblowers at the Air Force Mortuary Affairs Operations.**

* *

*► PERSONNEL ISSUES** *

Civilian developmental education applications due beginning in March http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123287913

Air Force civilians interested in developmental education should work on their nomination packages now, Air Force Personnel Center officials advised.**

* *

*►FAMILY, HEALTH AND SAFETY*

Safety officers offer cold-weather tips http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123287949**

Despite an unseasonably mild winter for much of the U.S., military safety officials offer a reminder that Old Man Winter still has two months to go as they underscore the importance of winter safety for service members and their families.**

* *

*►TECHNOLOGY*

ESC working to upgrade the 'heart' of control, reporting center http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123287960**

The Electronic Systems Center is working to modernize the U.S. Air Force Control and Reporting Center and has recently put out a request for information to upgrade the CRC Operations Module.**

* *

* *

* *

* *

* *

* *

*►RESOURCES*

"* *"

"*AF.mil *"

http://www.af.mil http://www.af.mil/

"*Airman magazine*"

http://www.airmanonline.af.mil/

"* *"

"*Air Force Community*"

http://www.afcommunity.af.mil/

"* *"

"*Air Force Outreach*"

http://www.afoutreach.af.mil/

"* *"

"*Military OneSource*"

http://www.militaryonesource.com/

* *

"* *"

"*Military HOMEFRONT*"

http://www.militaryhomefront.dod.mil/

"* *"

"*Air Force Personnel Center*"

https://gum-crm.csd.disa.mil https://gum-crm.csd.disa.mil/

http://www.afpc.randolph.af.mil/

"* *"

"*Air Reserve Personnel Center*"

http://www.arpc.afrc.af.mil/

"* *"

"*Department of Defense*"

http://www.defense.gov http://www.defense.gov/

"* *"

"*Department of Defense News*"

http://www.defenselink.mil http://www.defenselink.mil/

*"Department of Veterans Affairs"*

http://www.va.gov http://www.va.gov/

"* *"

"*TRICARE*"

http://www.tricare.mil http://www.tricare.mil/

"* *"

"*U.S. Government Website*"

http://www.firstgov.gov/

"*Employment Opportunities*"

www.usajobs.com http://www.usajobs.com/

www.nafjobs.org http://www.nafjobs.org/

* *

*"Air Force Association Scholarships"*

http://www.afa.org/aef/aid/scholars.asp*""*

* *

* *

* *

* *

* *

* *

*►THIS WEEK IN AIR FORCE HISTORY *

*Feb. 3, 1946* - At Columbus, Ohio, the U.S. Army Air Forces disclosed the development of a plane with automatic devices for takeoff, flight and landing. The pilot only had to monitor the equipment.

*Feb. 4, 1985* - After studying the use of women in missile crews, the Strategic Air Command decided to use gender-specific (all-female) crews in Minuteman units. The first class of six female Titan II launch control officers started Minuteman qualification training at Vandenberg AFB, Calif., in October. They were scheduled for duty with the 351st Strategic Missile Wing at Whiteman AFB, Mo., in January 1986.

*Feb. 5, 1905* - Thomas S. Baldwin took part in a 10-mile race between his dirigible and an automobile. The dirigible and its pilot won by three minutes.

*Feb. 6, 1959* - The Air Force successfully launched its first Titan I Intercontinental Ballistic Missile from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla.

*Feb. 7, 1999* - From Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla., a Delta II rocket launched carrying the first spacecraft designed to intercept a comet and bring samples back to earth. The spacecraft was named Stardust.

*Feb. 8, 1908* - The Secretary of War approved bids by the Wright brothers, Augustus M. Herring, and James

F. Scott to build the U.S. Army’s first plane.

*Feb. 9, 1972* - The Boeing EC-137D testbed aircraft for the Air Force’s Airborne Warning and Control System made its first flight.

For more information on Air Force heritage, visit "http://www.airforcehistory.af.mil http://www.airforcehistory.af.mil/".

" "

"The Defense Media Activity produces Commander's Call Topics weekly. For questions or comments about this or any other DMA product, send e-mail to afproducts@dma.mil. To subscribe to Air Force news and information products online, go to www.af.mil/information/subscribe http://www.af.mil/information/subscribe."

________________________________________________________________________

US Air Force logo http://www.af.mil Questions for the Air Force? Contact Us http://www.af.mil/questions/

STAY CONNECTED: Visit Us on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/USairforce Visit Us on YouTube http://www.youtube.com/afbluetube Visit Us on Twitter http://twitter.com/usairforce Visit Us on Flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/usairforce RSS feeds http://www.af.mil/rss/ Sign up for email updates http://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/USDODAF/subscribers/new

SUBSCRIBER SERVICES: Manage preferences http://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/USDODAF/subscribers/new?preferences=true | Delete profile

________________________________________________________________________