09/18/02 - OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM (AFPN) -- Airman 1st Class Conner Maher (left) and Col. Gregory Ihde cut cakes at Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan, in celebration of the Air Force's 55th birthday Sept. 18. Maher, 20, is deployed with the 822nd Expeditionary Security Forces Group from Moody Air Force Base, Ga. Traditionally, as the most junior airman at Bagram, he was selected to participate in the ceremony with Ihde, the senior Air Force officer here. Ihde is dual-hatted as director of the Air Component Coordination Element for Combined Joint Task Force 180, and is commander of the 455th Air Expeditionary Wing. In the background is special guest Army Brig. Gen. Benjamin Mixon, CJTF 180 director of staff. (Photo by Senior Airman Tina Rivera)
SECAF, CSAF send Air Force birthday message
Fifty-five years ago, President Harry Truman, with a visionary stroke of his pen, established the U.S. Air Force as a separate armed service. Since then, we have revolutionized the nature of warfare and enabled a new universe of discovery and operations in space. With its attributes of speed, range, stealth, awareness and precision, our nation's outstanding Air Force will continue to deliver global reconnaissance and air dominance, as well as the great deterrent power those capabilities make possible.
From the days of providing humanitarian relief during the Berlin Airlift to the historic display of airpower during operations Desert Storm and Allied Force, and now in the war on terrorism, our airmen have served with extraordinary integrity, selflessness and dedication. Across the spectrum of operations, whether standing guard for deterrence, conducting joint combat operations, fulfilling our global expeditionary commitments, or defending the homeland, our Air Force has answered its nation's call. However, we cannot rest on our past successes. We must renew our commitment to adapt our current systems, modernize our force, and transform our air and space strategy to the challenges of this new era.
At the dawn of the 21st century, the importance of air and space dominance to the joint warfighter is clear. We owe much to the legends of airpower whose determination and vision resulted in an independent Air Force. Today we celebrate our heritage and look forward to a bright future thanks to airmen across the globe: active duty, civilian, Guard, Reserve, retirees, veterans and their families.
Happy Birthday to the world's premier air and space force, the U.S. Air Force!