C U R R E N T N E W S F A L C O N C L I P S Sept. 16, 2013 Get the latest Watch the newest videos Follow us on Twitter happenings on on your Academy for random USAFA USAFA Facebook Youtube channel news and facts For recent television news coverage, please select the link above for your network (.edu or .mil). For More USAFA Athletics News (Click Here) Use of these news items does not reflect official endorsement. Reproduction for private use or gain is subject to original copyright restrictions. For other news around the Air Force and Department of Defense, visit the Current News Early Bird and Air Force AIM Points. For more information regarding sequestration and furloughs, go to the following links: DoD's Link: http://www.defense.gov/home/features/2013/0213_sequestration/ OPM's Link on Administrative Furloughs: http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay- leave/furlough-guidance/#url=Administrative-Furlough AF Portal Link for Sequestration: https://www.my.af.mil/gcss- af/USAF/ep/globalTab.do?channelPageId=sA4057E1F3CE4E6AB013D02ED7E4902B1 AIR FORCE ACADEMY Cadets honor 108 who passed on Colorado Springs Gazette; Sept. 15, 2013 Most schools celebrate homecoming with a pep rally. ACADEMY SPORTS Fencers did battle and won! Nick Toth Open came to a close today at the Academy GoAirForceFalcons.com; Sept. 15, 2013 The Air Force women fencers did battle and won! The Nick Toth Open drew to a close today, Sunday, Sept. 15, at the Academy with several women's fencers taking top places. In a hard fought Women's Senior Foil competition, Mary McElwee was a two-time champion in the senior and junior foil tournaments. Madeleine Girardot took second in senior foil and Alisa Chernomashentsev tied for third place in seniors. In Senior Women's Saber, Alyssa Hofilena took second and Desirae Ionata tied for third place. Falcons Win Two at Home on Saturday Colorado Springs Gazette; Sept. 14, 2013 The Air Force women’s tennis team won two matches at home Saturday, defeating CSU- Pueblo, 6-1, and Metro State, 7-0. The Falcons improved to 4-0 this season. Calhoun would like to see redshirts at academy Colorado Springs Gazette; Sept. 15, 2013 Boise State and Utah State have systematically handled Air Force in the past two weeks, outscoring the Falcons 94-40 and launching a combined two punts. AIR FORCE Welsh: Scarce Resources Must Go To Core Missions Air Force Times; Sept 23, 2013 Chief of Staff Gen. Mark Welsh has a lot to contend with — an aging fleet of aircraft, an uncertain fiscal future and the possibility that the Air Force will be needed for an operation in Syria. US Air Force Weighs Scrapping KC-10s, A-10s, F-15Cs, New CSAR Helicopters Defense News; Sept 16, 2013 WASHINGTON — Faced with steep budget cuts and the desire to keep existing procurement initiatives on track, the US Air Force is considering scrapping its entire fleet of KC-10 tankers and A-10 attack jets, according to multiple military and defense sources. AFA Air & Space Conference comes to AF.mil Air Force News Service; Sept. 13, 2013 FORT GEORGE G. MEADE, Md. (AFNS) -- A new iteration of the Air Force Association’s annual Air & Space Conference and Technology Exposition is set to take place Sept. 16-18 at National Harbor, Md. AF publishes list of sex assault convictions Air Force Times; Sep. 13, 2013 A newly published Air Force document includes all sexual assault convictions from 2010 through August of this year. It marks the first time the service has attempted to release such a list as it faces criticism for its handling of sex assault cases. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE Cyber Security: The New Arms Race For A New Front Line Christian Science Monitor’ Sept. 15, 2013 Wall Township, N.J.--In the eastern New Jersey suburbs, a train carrying radiological material is barreling toward a small town, and it is up to Pentagon cyber-operators to derail it. The town is the kind of idyllic whistle-stop hamlet where residents socialize at a cafe with complimentary Wi-Fi while surfing FaceSpace, a social networking site. SEQUESTRATION DoD Will 'Aggressively' Target Compensation Army Times; Sept. 23, 2013 As the Defense Department maps out plans to absorb long-term budget cuts, military compensation and troop levels are among the primary targets, the Pentagon’s top financial officer said. Obama, GOP in showdown over government shutdown Stars and Stripes; Sept. 15, 2013 WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama on Sunday vowed anew to reject any fiscal negotiations with congressional Republicans that include the federal debt ceiling, setting up a showdown over the debt limit that the U.S. government is expected to reach in a month. GRADUATES A first for academy graduate Colorado Springs Gazette; Sept. 15, 2013 An Air Force Academy graduate and Air Force reservist marked another first in his pro football career this month when he started the season on an NFL roster. OPINION/EDITORIAL Council: Support City for Champions proposal Colorado Springs Gazette;Sept. 16, 2013 An open letter to City Council members Joel Miller, Keith King, Andy Pico, Don Knight and Helen Collins: OF INTEREST Local hero recalls month as a POW Colorado Springs Gazette; Sept. 16, 2013 Bobby Goodman has no opinion of U.S. military involvement in Syria. Colorado Springs Gazette Sept. 15, 2013 Cadets honor 108 who passed on Annual rite helps AFA understand what sacrifice is By Tom Roeder Most schools celebrate homecoming with a pep rally. For the past 49 years, cadets at the Air Force Academy have marked homecoming with a memorial service for academy alums who died in the past year — 108 this time. The Sept. 6 sunset ceremony has as much tradition as the raucous rites of other schools. And officials say it brings deeper meaning. “Homecoming isn’t homecoming here like you think,” academy spokesman John Van Winkle said. “There’s no homecoming queen or bonfire.” The academy’s 4,000 cadets gathered in formation for a roll call of the fallen. As each name was read, the cry of “absent” echoed across the campus. Academy officials say the annual rite is crucial to honor the fallen and to help future officers understand the meaning of sacrifice. “They need to understand what service is all about,” said Chief Master Sgt. Steven Ludwig, the academy’s top enlisted airman. Those remembered ranged from graduates of the academy’s first class in 1959 to one member of the Class of 2013. Two died at war overseas. Capt. Victoria Pinckney and Capt. Tyler Voss, who both called Colorado Springs home, died in the May crash of a refueling plane in Kyrgyzstan. Another remembered was the academy’s first black graduate, Charles V. Bush of the Class of 1963. After serving in Vietnam, Bush went on to success in business and as a consultant and speaker. He died Nov. 5 in Montana. Senior cadet Joel Cramer said the ceremony gives his classmates a lot to think about. The 108 people remembered at the ceremony were shown in a program with their cadet portraits. Their names were called by cadet squadron. Some made it to general. Others died as cadets. “It helps you to think that they were where I am right now,” Cramer said. The service took an hour and ended with taps. Family members of the fallen watched their kin get a final salute from 4,000 cadets. Army Chief Warrant Officer Frank Grulkowski was there to remember his niece, Pinckney. The ceremony brought a single word to his mind. “Honor,” he said, as tears filled his eyes. GoAirForceFalcons.com Sept. 15, 2013 Fencers did battle and won! Nick Toth Open came to a close today at the Academy The Air Force women fencers did battle and won! The Nick Toth Open drew to a close today, Sunday, Sept. 15, at the Academy with several women's fencers taking top places. In a hard fought Women's Senior Foil competition, Mary McElwee was a two-time champion in the senior and junior foil tournaments. Madeleine Girardot took second in senior foil and Alisa Chernomashentsev tied for third place in seniors. In Senior Women's Saber, Alyssa Hofilena took second and Desirae Ionata tied for third place. In the Junior Women's tournaments, Alyssa Hofilena took the gold in saber. In the finals for foil, it was McElwee, who won the championship title as Chernomashentsev was the runner up and Girardot tied for third place. In senior women's foil, the Falcons participated in two pools, pool 1: Lauren Brooks, Waverly Hock and Mary McElwee. In pool 2, it was Madeleine Girardot, Alisa Chernomashentsev and Ashley Chung. In the semi bout it was Chernomashentsev against Girardot in pool 2. Chernomashentsev brought it strong against her opponent with a two-point lead, but Girardot would answer causing a two-point tie in the first period. In the second period Girardot, who would not allow her teammate to score more than two touches began answering touch for touch against Chernomashentsev. With 14 seconds left in the second period, Girardot scored a tie (14- 14) and finally as time ran out, scored again for the 15-14 victory. "I am happy with Alisa's performance today as this is her first tournament to represent the Air Force`s Academy," said head coach Abdel Salem. "She showed good potential and we are happy to have her on the team." In pool 1, McElwee went up against Albane Ricard (unattached) in the semi round. McElwee held the bout leading with 13-points to win the bout, 15-2.