NEW CUMBERLAND, Pa. –
The United States Air Force celebrates its 76th Birthday on September 18. From the very beginning, the Air Force has been instrumental in protecting the Nation, leading the nation in continued innovation and leading in the air, space and cyber domains.
Since it was officially established in 1947, the Air Force has been a force for good at home and abroad. Overseas, airmen support the U.S. military with combat airpower, mobility, superior intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance. On the home front, airmen safeguard the nation from threats, protecting our freedoms. They advance our interests around the world, ensuring that our country is a global leader in innovation and aviation.
The Air Force was born out of the U.S. Army Signal Corps, who worked with the Wright Brothers in 1909 to create the world’s first military airplane, a two-seat observation aircraft that is now displayed at the Smithsonian Museum in Washington, D.C. In addition to securing the skies, the Air Force is at the forefront of the cutting-edge technology we use every day. For example, GPS, like many technological advances, began as highly-classified projects in the Air Force and Space Force. Some of the latest Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) projects and innovations they’re currently working include the technology to prevent injury and to keep Airmen safe. This includes use of advanced wearable technologies such as shirt-integrated sensors and health-monitoring patches. This technology allows for crucial information to be transmitted quickly and seamlessly and ultimately increases the forces mission effectiveness and readiness.
As we celebrate the birthday of the U.S. Air Force, I ask that you remember not only our Airmen, but also our Soldiers, Sailors, Marines and Guardians, who are deployed all over the world ensuring our freedom, and their families.
Happy Birthday to the United States Air Force!
Aim High, Fly-Fight-Win!