A fresh crop of 1,274 basic cadet trainees started their in-processing and entered basic cadet training on June 24 at the Air Force Academy in Colorado. Of these appointees, who make up the academy’s class of 2014, there are 291 women (22.8 percent of the class) and 350 minorities (27.4 percent), including black (7.9 percent), Hispanic (8.9 percent), native American (one percent), and Pacific islander (9.8 percent). Basic cadet training runs through July 31. The Academy’s fall semester starts on Aug. 7. (Air Force Academy report by John Van Winkle)
F-35As from the Vermont Air National Guard have deployed to Puerto Rico in recent days, continuing a major buildup of U.S. Air Force assets in Latin America aimed at combating drug trafficking and pressuring the regime of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro.

