air force

July 4th Message From Our Chapter President

/ Ian L. Sitren / Leave a comment

President’s 250th Anniversary Message
AFA 134: Bridge to the Future

Dear AFA Palm Springs Members and Friends,

As we honor the 250th anniversary of our nation’s founding, I am struck by the unique and vital role our chapter plays in the Coachella Valley. More than just an organization, our AFA Palm Springs Chapter serves as a crucial bridge, one that spans generations, technology, and service.

On one side of this bridge stands our rich history and the engaging stories so many of you share about your service to our nation. We all share a deep reverence for the foundations laid by the United States Air Force and United States Space Force, and we carry the enduring values of service, integrity, and excellence that have always defined our nation’s defense.

On the other side of that bridge lies the future. The landscape of our national defense is rapidly shifting toward space, AI driven weapons systems, and cyber warfare. To meet these threats, our nation requires a new generation of dedicated, tech savvy minds.

Our mission as a chapter is to ensure that bridge remains unbreakable.

Through our cyber education programs, such as the Coachella Valley Cyber Cup Challenge and our upcoming hands on Cyber Camp this month, we aren’t just teaching students technical skills. We are helping strengthen our nation’s future defense by teaching teamwork and leadership, and by preparing the next generation to safeguard our space networks, our digital infrastructure, and the technologies that will shape tomorrow’s conflicts.

Every bit of support and advocacy our chapter invests in programs like these helps Coachella Valley students cross the bridge from today’s classrooms to tomorrow’s leadership. Thank you for your years of service, for honoring our past, and for actively supporting our efforts to help secure our nation’s future.

In Service,

Jim

President, AFA Palm Springs Chapter 134

The Story Behind Our Air Commandos Lunch

/ Ian L. Sitren / 2 Comments

Some of the best ideas begin almost by accident.

Our Air Commandos Lunches began during the COVID years as a simple way for members and friends to get together when many of our normal activities had come to a halt. The idea was straightforward. Pick a local restaurant, have lunch, enjoy good conversation, and keep people connected.

ROC’s Firehouse Grille in Palm Desert became the gathering place.

The name “Air Commandos” was chosen completely in jest. It was a satirical nickname for an unofficial lunch gathering, and somehow it stuck.

We are, of course, fully aware that there are real Air Commandos. They are the highly trained Airmen of the U.S. Air Force Special Operations Command, carrying out demanding missions around the world.

Our Air Commandos have a very different mission.

We specialize in hamburgers, sandwiches, coffee, adult beverages, solving the world’s problems, and occasionally telling stories that improve with every retelling.

In a way, our lunches remind me of the famous Algonquin Round Table, the legendary gathering of writers, actors, critics, and humorists who met almost daily at New York City’s Algonquin Hotel from 1919 through 1929. Their conversations became famous for their wit, opinions, storytelling, and friendships. While our lunches certainly do not claim that kind of literary history, they share something just as important. Good conversation and the enjoyment of spending time with interesting people.

Many of our guest speaker ideas, community partnerships, and lasting friendships can trace their beginnings to conversations around those lunch tables. There is something about sharing a meal that encourages people to relax, exchange ideas, and simply enjoy one another’s company. There are no agendas, no speeches, and no formal programs. Just lunch and conversation.

Everyone is welcome. You do not have to be an Air & Space Forces Association member to attend.

We usually meet every other Wednesday at 11:30 a.m. at ROC’s Firehouse Grille in Palm Desert. Current dates are always posted on the Calendar page here on our website. If you would like to confirm a date or have any questions, simply email us at AFAPalmSprings@outlook.com

We hope you’ll join us at a future Air Commandos Lunch. Pull up a chair, order your favorite lunch, and become part of the conversation. Thanks!

Why Is AFA Palm Springs Investing in Cyber Education?

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Many AFA Palm Springs Chapter 134 members have asked, “Why are we expending resources on a topic that seems removed from airpower?”

The answer lies in the vision of Gen. H.H. “Hap” Arnold, who recognized that airpower requires a technologically literate force. That requirement is even more critical today, as technology now fundamentally shapes how we work, live, learn, communicate, and conduct modern warfare.

To maintain our status as the world’s dominant military power, we must cultivate cyber proficient professionals capable of navigating an era defined by AI driven drones, sophisticated cyberattacks, and advanced weapons systems.

We cannot wait until students enter the U.S. Air Force to build these skills. Through our chapter’s support for CyberPatriot teams, summer cyber camps, and industry field trips, we are helping students develop essential cyber technology expertise early.

Our vision is to build a sustainable pipeline of 100 to 150 students from middle school through college. By preparing them to enter the workforce, we are helping address the national shortage of more than 460,000 cybersecurity jobs across industry, government, and the military. That is a vital contribution to our national security.

At the same time, we are introducing the Air & Space Forces Association to organizations throughout the Coachella Valley that previously had little understanding of who we are or what we do. Our recent award of a $20,000 Cyber Education Grant from the Anderson Children’s Foundation is clear recognition of the value and importance of these efforts to our community.

In future posts, we will explore the origins of our chapter’s cyber education program, its expansion into a Coachella Valley wide initiative, and how our programs help transform local students into technology proficient teams. We will also discuss how you, as an AFA member, can play a role in this important mission. Thank You!

About the Author

James (Jim) McFarlin is President of the Air & Space Forces Association Palm Springs Chapter 134. He leads the chapter’s growing Cyber Education initiative, working with schools, industry, and community partners throughout the Coachella Valley to develop the next generation of cyber professionals and strengthen America’s future workforce.

Contact: mcfarlin.jim@gmail.com

Relief Resources for Airmen and Guardians During the Government Shutdown

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As the federal government shutdown continues, many active-duty Airmen, Guardians, civilian employees, and military families are facing uncertainty about upcoming paydays. The October 15 paycheck was issued after funds were temporarily shifted, but future pay cycles—starting with October 31—remain uncertain if the shutdown continues into November.

The Air & Space Forces Association’s national publication recently outlined available relief resources and key points of concern affecting our Airmen and Guardians.

Financial Impacts

  • The shutdown threatens to delay pay for uniformed personnel and civilian employees alike.
  • Dual-income military households face particular strain if one or both paychecks are interrupted.
  • Civilian employees and contractors are already experiencing furloughs and missed pay.
  • If the shutdown extends, the Department of Defense may lack the authority to issue paychecks beyond mid-November.

Assistance and Relief Programs
Several organizations are stepping up to provide help during this period:

  • Air Force Aid Society (AFAS): Has already distributed more than $1 million in emergency assistance to Airmen, Guardians, and their families.
  • USAA: Offering no-interest paycheck advance loans (up to approximately $6,000) to eligible members.
  • PenFed Credit Union: Providing paycheck advances and deferral programs for members who receive federal pay deposits.
  • Other financial institutions serving military and government members are offering “skip-a-payment” and hardship options; check with your bank or credit union for details.

Base-level services supported by non-appropriated funds—such as childcare and libraries—are continuing operations where possible, helping maintain some stability for families.

Recommended Actions

  • Check eligibility with your financial institution for advance or deferral programs.
  • Monitor official updates regarding pay and benefits for active, Guard, and Reserve personnel.
  • Communicate early with landlords, lenders, and utilities if you anticipate payment delays.
  • Seek assistance from non-profit organizations such as the AFAS if you are directly affected.

Why It Matters
Beyond immediate financial strain, the ongoing uncertainty impacts morale, readiness, and family stability across the Air and Space Forces community. Relief programs can help bridge the gap, but they cannot replace the government’s responsibility to pay its servicemembers.

For the full article, visit the Air & Space Forces Association’s national site:
https://www.airandspaceforces.com/shutdown-relief-programs-airmen-guardians/

Air Force to Field Autonomous Cessna Caravan

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 A Cessna 208B Grand Caravan equipped with Reliable’s aircraft autonomy system takes part in Air Force exercises in 2024. [Courtesy: Reliable Robotics]

The U.S. Air Force has taken a significant step toward transforming airlift operations with a $17.4 million contract awarded to Reliable Robotics for its aircraft autonomy system, the Reliable Autonomy System (RAS), to be deployed on Cessna 208B Grand Caravan single-engine turboprops.

Why This Matters for the AFA and the Air Force Community:

  • End-to-end automated flight: RAS enables automated taxiing, takeoff, flight, and landing—offering robust autonomy with built-in redundancy and precision navigation that addresses common safety risks like controlled flight into terrain (CFIT) and loss of control in flight (LOC‑I).
  • Designed for austere environments: The Indo‑Pacific region is set to benefit first, with the aircraft’s simplicity and autonomy enabling efficient missions in remote areas where human resources are stretched.
  • Safety + affordability: With a much lower operational cost—approximately $2,000 per flight hour compared to around $20,000 for a C‑130J—and a 90% dispatch reliability rate, the Caravan proves to be both cost-effective and ready for rugged service.
  • Multi-platform potential: Though the Caravan is the immediate focus, RAS is aircraft-agnostic. The Air Force is already exploring its integration with larger models like the KC‑135 Stratotanker and Cessna 408 SkyCourier.
  • Proven performance in exercises: Reliable Robotics previously demonstrated RAS capabilities during real-world, military‑style Agile Flag exercises—autonomously flying Caravan missions across multiple California and Nevada airfields via remote pilot operations with an onboard safety pilot.

What’s Next? This contract marks a pivotal milestone in the Air Force’s shift toward autonomous aviation. By leveraging commercial-grade autonomy solutions like RAS, the service is poised to enhance operational readiness, cost efficiency, and mission adaptability, especially within the doctrine of Agile Combat Employment.

Want to dig deeper into this cutting-edge development? Read the full story in Flying Magazine here:

“Air Force to Field Autonomous Cessna Caravan” – Flying Magazine August 26, 2025
https://www.flyingmag.com/air-force-reliable-robotics-automated-caravan/

USAF Targets Cybertrucks

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In a twist that feels more science fiction than reality, the U.S. Air Force has officially targeted the Tesla Cybertruck—not for transportation, but for missile testing.

What’s Going On?

According to federal procurement documents, the Air Force Test Center plans to acquire two Cybertrucks as part of a larger package of 33 target vehicles for live-fire exercises at White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico. These vehicles are intended for use in Special Operations Command’s Standoff Precision Guided Munitions (SOPGM) training, involving weapons like Hellfire missiles and Laser Small Diameter Bombs.

Why the Cybertruck?

The Cybertruck isn’t your average target. Its aggressively angular design, unpainted stainless-steel exoskeleton, and advanced 48V electrical architecture distinguish it from typical painted steel or aluminum vehicles. Military analysts highlight that its design may make it more resilient to damage than conventional vehicles—raising concerns that adversaries might adopt similar platforms in real-world combat scenarios. In the words of procurement documents:

“In the operating theatre it is likely the type of vehicles used by the enemy may transition to Tesla Cybertrucks, as they have been found not to receive the normal extent of damage expected upon major impact.”

Context & Precedent

This decision is part of a broader, forward-looking assessment of potential threats. Notably, a 2024 viral image featured Ramzan Kadyrov, Chechnya’s leader, reportedly using a weaponized Cybertruck—though the authenticity and details remain murky.

Beyond the novelty, this move emphasizes how rapidly evolving technology—especially modern EV designs—are being evaluated for battlefield relevance.

What to Expect

  • The Cybertrucks do not need to be operable; they must simply be tow-capable and structurally intact.
  • This initiative may offer minor support to Cybertruck demand amid softening sales and a spate of recalls.

Takeaway: What began as a futuristic consumer truck is now serving an unexpected purpose: helping train the Air Force for possible real-world battlefield threats. This development vividly underscores the intersection of innovation, vulnerability analysis, and military preparedness.

Johnny Cash was a “Ditty Bopper”

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Johnny Cash is pictured in his Air Force uniform in the early 1950s.

Before he was the Man in Black, Johnny Cash wore Air Force blue. In 1950, at just 18, Cash enlisted in the United States Air Force during the Korean War, eventually serving as a Morse code operator—known as a “ditty bopper”—in the 12th Radio Squadron Mobile, stationed at Landsberg, West Germany.

His assignment? Intercepting Soviet transmissions and decoding them. It was during this duty on March 5, 1953, that Airman Johnny Cash became the first American to learn that Soviet leader Joseph Stalin had died, picking it up over his headphones in dots and dashes before the world knew. Not a bad claim to fame before your first gold record.

Cash later said the Air Force shaped him: the discipline, the long stretches of quiet time with a guitar, and the stories he carried home. It is a reminder that many who shape American culture first served in quiet, often unseen roles, supporting the mission of freedom in the tense days of the Cold War.

The next time you hear “I Walk the Line,” remember Johnny Cash walked a different line first, wearing his Air Force uniform, tuning into the world one dot and dash at a time. Read the DoD story April 17 2025 here… https://www.defense.gov/News/Feature-Stories/Story/Article/4157671/singer-johnny-cash-served-in-the-air-force-during-the-cold-war/

“Masters Of The Air”

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The long-awaited “Masters Of The Air” miniseries is released on Apple TV! It depicts the Airmen of the Eighth Air Force and the 100th Bomb Group flying B-17’s at Thorpe Abbotts England during World War II.

Here is flying in a B-17 Flying Fortress as it lands at the airport in Palm Springs California. Turn your sound up and watch for the ground shadow!

Into The Future Skies

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From the strategic airfields of World War II to the Cold War era’s nuclear deterrence, and the support bases of the Vietnam War, the Pacific has witnessed the Air Force’s enduring commitment to projecting power and safeguarding allies. Pacific Air Forces’ modernization efforts demonstrates its unwavering dedication to adapting, innovating and maintaining its edge in an ever-evolving world. These endeavors encompass not only the enhancement of physical infrastructure but also the embracement of green technologies and the cultivation of partnerships that ensure continued air space superiority in the Pacific for years to come. Read the full story in Airman Magazine 11-04-2023 here at https://tinyurl.com/27jxym4v