0735 – terrorists Atta and al-Omari board American Airlines Flight 11, along with the rest of the Flight 11 hijackers.
0759 – American Airlines Flight 11 departs towards Los Angeles International Airport.
Archive for the ‘Memorial’ Category
9/11 Memorial – As It Happened – 0700
Monday, September 11th, 20239/11 Memorial – As It Happened – 0600
Monday, September 11th, 2023
0600 – terrorists Mohammed Atta and Abdulaziz al-Omari traveled to Logan International Airport from Portland International Jetport in Portland, Maine.
0652 – fellow terrorist Marwan al-Shehhi called Atta at Logan to confirm the plans of the attack.
In Memoriam GEN John J Lindsay (USA, Ret)
Sunday, August 6th, 2023General (Ret.) James Lindsay, of Vass, North Carolina, the former Commander of U.S. Special Operations Command, 18th Airborne Corps, and the 82nd Airborne Division passed away of natural causes at the age of 90 years old on August 5, 2023.
General (Ret.) James Lindsay had a storied career which earned him the Distinguished Service Cross, two Distinguished Service Medals and four Silver Stars in Vietnam.
(U.S. Army video by SPC Alexandra Behne)
In Memoriam – MG Anthony Potts
Sunday, July 30th, 2023
We are saddened to report that MG Anthony “Tony” Potts, was the only fatality of a single engine plane crash last week in Havre de Grace, Maryland. Commissioning in the Aviation branch in 1986, general Potts was a Master Army Aviator having flown the AH64 Apache helicopter. During his service in the Acquisition Corps he held several posts including four years as Program Executive Officer Soldier where he oversaw multiple initiatives including the Next Generation Squad Weapons program.
Most recently, MG Potts served as Program Executive Office Command, Control & Communications-Tactical and was planning to retire soon.
General Potts will be greatly missed by his colleagues, friends and family.
May He Rest In Peace.
Jim Scoutten of Shooting USA Has Passed Away
Wednesday, July 19th, 2023
Well known Shooting USA host Jim Scoutten has passed away.
In his thirty years of reporting the shooting sports, Jim played a pivotal role in the industry and will be greatly missed.
“As always, shoot safely, shoot often, and keep ‘em in the ten ring”
-Jim Scoutten
May He Rest In Peace
Honor Our Fallen This Memorial Day
Monday, May 29th, 2023I’ve often seen a quote which is used to describe our Vietnam Veterans, “All Gave Some, Some Gave All,” but I think it’s an appropriate epitaph for all of our nation’s fallen service members, no matter what era they served, nor what took them from us.
Enjoy the day, but take a moment to honor and remember our brothers and sisters. Death takes some on the battlefield. It takes others in more insidious ways, sometimes long after the battle is done.
The Mystery Ranch Honor Pack Is Key To Healing For Station Foundation Participants
Sunday, May 28th, 2023There are times when we can use what we do best to create impact, to create meaning, and to create something bigger than a backpack. This was one of those times. We are incredibly proud to support the Station Foundation and recently completed these special HONOR PACKS for their program participants.
In their programs, they honor their Fallen Warriors with a sacred ritual. Each night, they gather on the edge of the wilderness while carrying a large river rock in their MR packs. These rocks are hand-picked along the Gallatin River. Some are plain, others are adorned to honor those they hike for.
Together, they hike in silence to a memorial built stone by stone, standing as a symbol of the weight they all carry inside and the courage it takes to leave it behind.
“For the past ten years, the sons and daughters of our fallen Special Operations Warriors have come to The Station Foundation to heal and grow beyond tragic loss. It’s here, in the beautiful backcountry of Montana, where we come together to honor the Fallen, celebrate their legacies, and guide their children into the lives they are destined to live. These are special kids who answer their calling and discover authentic healing in a community that chooses never to forget.
Throughout this powerful journey, one special partner shows up every year: MYSTERY RANCH. The MYSTERY RANCH family has quietly supported our Gold Star Students for over a decade and continues to find special ways to say ‘we care’ in the Special Operations Community.
This ‘HONOR PACK’ elevates the lives of those quiet professionals who left us too early, and who are missed dearly. It reminds us of the costs of war and the things we carry home. Most of all, the HONOR PACK carries the weight through our wilderness until we are ready to put it down.
MYSTERY RANCH has always been there when we needed them. We’ve relied on their packs in combat and now depend upon their love on our journey home. This pack is a symbol of strength, hope, and of life beyond war. It is a testament to great people showing up to make a difference. We may Never Forget– MYSTERY RANCH has our backs.”
– Kevin Stacy, Station Foundation Founder & Executive Director
Defenders Memorialized During Police Week, DAF Expands Security Forces Training
Monday, May 22nd, 2023
WASHINGTON (AFNS) —
The names of three Department of the Air Force defenders were among the 556 fallen officers read aloud during the 35th Annual Candlelight vigil May 13 as part of the many events that take place across the country during National Police Week, May 14-19.
The three defenders honored during the vigil were Tech. Sgt. Jason Norton, Staff Sgt. Brian McElroy and Senior Airman Jason Nathan.
“It is important to honor their memories and celebrate the achievements they made to the defense of our nation,” said Brig. Gen. Thomas Sherman, director of Security Forces. “National Police Week in general is a time to reflect on those we lost, as well as a time to come together as law enforcement professionals within the Security Forces career field.”
At this year’s vigil, Timothy Gerald, deputy director of Security Forces, attended the vigil to represent the Department of the Air Force defender family.
“Our Department of the Air Force civilian police officers have worked alongside uniformed defenders for more than a decade. Together, our active duty, Guard, Reserve, and civilian defenders conducting law enforcement make us a stronger fighting force,” said Gerald, who also serves as the senior Air Force civilian and functional manager overseeing all matters concerning the utilization, development and career field management of the 4,600-person DAF civilian security and police force. “Thank you to our Total Force defender family for their dedicated service.”
National Police Week is a time to reflect on the challenges that law enforcement officers face every day. The Security Forces Air Staff continues to support law enforcement officers by ensuring that they have adequate resources and training.
Law enforcement is an important aspect of Security Force’s larger mission of base defense. Defenders protect Airmen, Guardians and their families; defend resources, equipment and capability; and assure that air and space missions supporting the DAF are carried out successfully and securely.
Law enforcement is not only important for the safety and well-being of Airmen—it is also a key force-multiplying capability vested in base defense.
As the Air Staff recognizes law enforcement professionals during Police Week, it also reflects on the major efforts underway to support civilians within its law enforcement community. In 2022, the Security Forces enterprise launched an effort to build the law enforcement specialty directly within the civilian career field. This required selecting a subset of the 43,000 Total Force Security Forces population to be uniquely identified as law enforcement practitioners.
Building on that effort, the Air Staff expanded the Police Officer Training and Standards Accredited Academy to accept military students. This enables the Security Forces enterprise to establish a foundation of base defense training, creating base defense-focused defenders within the basic courses while later selecting Airmen for specialized law enforcement training at the academy.
The Air Force Security Forces Center facilitated funding to increase course availability to 500 students per year. All graduates are credentialed and badged federal law enforcement officers. Finally, to sustain officer skills, the AFSFC will introduce a 40-hour annual recertification course and additional instruction for field training officers, sergeant/supervisors and deputy directors.
Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs
