Aerospace Education

The 2026 Air & Space Forces Almanac Has Arrived

/ Ian L. Sitren / Leave a comment

One of the things I still enjoy is receiving a magazine in the mail.

Call me old fashioned, but there is something satisfying about holding a printed publication in your hands. The battery never runs out. It slips easily into a backpack or briefcase. You can read it at the beach, beside the pool, or in bright sunlight without fighting reflections on a screen. And if you happen to drip nacho cheese on it, you simply wipe it off and keep reading.

The latest issue of Air & Space Forces Magazine has started arriving in members’ mailboxes, and it is one I look forward to every year.

The 2026 Air & Space Forces Almanac is a remarkable 176-page reference filled with current information about the United States Air Force and United States Space Force. It covers everything from aircraft inventories, weapons systems, budgets, installations, and organizational structure to personnel statistics, leadership, awards, and much more. It is also packed with outstanding photography and graphics that make it just as enjoyable to browse as it is to study. 

Unlike most magazines that are read once and recycled, this is a publication that stays within easy reach. Throughout the year, I find myself pulling it off the shelf whenever I want to verify a fact, check an aircraft inventory, look up a command, or simply enjoy some excellent aviation photography.

Receiving Air & Space Forces Magazine, including this annual Almanac, is one of the many benefits available to AFA members at qualifying membership levels. It is another reminder that membership is about much more than supporting our Airmen, Guardians, and their families. It also connects you with information and resources that are difficult to find gathered together anywhere else.

If your copy has already arrived, I hope you enjoy it as much as I do. If not, keep an eye on your mailbox. I think you’ll find it’s well worth the wait.

A New Way to Join the Air & Space Forces Association Free!

/ Ian L. Sitren / Leave a comment

The Air & Space Forces Association has introduced something completely new.

For the first time, AFA now offers a free Mission Membership. This new membership makes it easier than ever for anyone with an interest in our Air Force, Space Force, aerospace, aviation, STEM education, or national security to become part of the AFA community. Again, membership is open to everyone.

Mission Membership provides access to AFA news, educational programs, webinars, research, national events, and local Chapter activities. Whether you have served in the military, work in aerospace, are a student, educator, or simply support the mission of the Air & Space Forces Association, there is now a place for you in AFA at absolutely no cost.

This is also a tremendous opportunity for AFA Palm Springs Chapter 134.

Every new member strengthens our Chapter and helps us expand our educational programs, CyberPatriot, community outreach, aerospace education, and partnerships throughout the Coachella Valley. The more members we have, the more we can accomplish.

If you are already an AFA member, thank you for your continued support.

If you know someone who has ever thought about joining AFA, now is the perfect time. Invite your family, friends, neighbors, fellow veterans, active duty military, educators, students, pilots, aviation enthusiasts, and anyone interested in aerospace and our nation’s defense.

Joining is easy.

Simply visit:

Join AFA

When completing your registration, please be sure to select Palm Springs Chapter 134. That simple step helps strengthen our local Chapter and ensures you receive information about our activities, meetings, educational programs, and special events.

It costs nothing.

It only takes a few minutes.

We look forward to welcoming many new members to AFA Palm Springs Chapter 134.

Thank You!

AFA Palm Springs Returns to Regular Chapter Communications and CyberPatriot Updates

/ Ian L. Sitren / Leave a comment

One thing became very clear after many conversations at our Air Commandos lunches.

Our Chapter has been doing a lot of good things.

The problem wasn’t the lack of activity. It was the lack of communication.

Many of us simply didn’t know what was happening.

That changes now.

One of the best examples is our Cyber Education program under the leadership of Jim McFarlin. It has developed into one of the most exciting and successful parts of our Chapter, yet many members know very little about it. Over the coming weeks Jim will be introducing everyone to the program with regular updates explaining what it is, who is involved, what is happening, and where it is headed.

The next major event is the AFA CyberPatriot Summer Cyber Camp at College of the Desert, July 13 through 17. It introduces high school students to cybersecurity, operating systems, networking, cryptography, incident response, online safety, and much more. It is exactly the kind of program that helps prepare the next generation for careers protecting our nation’s digital infrastructure.

Our Chapter is a major part of making this camp happen, and it deserves our support.

So…find a clean pair of pants and maybe a shirt without chili stains. More information will be coming very soon.

As part of improving communication, I have once again assumed responsibility for the Chapter’s website, Facebook page, and online communications. As many of you know, I turned those responsibilities over to the Chapter in December 2025. Since then, our online presence has been largely inactive.

That changes today.

You can expect regular updates, timely information about Chapter activities, stories about our members and programs, upcoming events, photographs, and the kinds of things that keep us informed about what is happening throughout our organization.

There is a tremendous amount of positive momentum within AFA Palm Springs. Our job now is simply to make sure everyone knows about it.

More to come…