As the Air Force’s top leaders emphasize the importance of the Total Force, the Air Force Officer Training School at Maxwell AFB, Ala., recently conducted a ceremony that exemplifies that unifying concept. For the first time ever, OTS cadets from the Active Duty component, Air National Guard, and Air Force Reserve stepped across the “blue line” together to signify their commitment to the Air Force and its core values, according to an Aug. 19 release. A total of 346 airmen stood in formation on July 19 and, when instructed by OTS Commander Col. Scott Lockwood, stepped over the line of glowing blue lights. These airmen not only represented the three Air Force components, but also the three different OTS programs: Basic Officer Training for Active Duty and Reserve candidates for commissioning; Academy of Military Science commissioning program for Air Guardsmen; and Commissioned Officer Training course for direct-commissioned officers who will serve as judge advocates, medical professionals, or chaplains. The blue-line ceremony is held during the indoctrination phase for every class at OTS, but previously the individual programs conducted it at different times, Maxwell spokeswoman SSgt. Natasha Stannard told Air Force Magazine on Aug. 25.
As the Air Force readied for its June 21-22 strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities, the service was also putting its Agile Combat Employment strategy into action, dispersing combat aircraft and Airmen from Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar in preparation for a possible Iranian retaliatory attack. Some defense experts say…
