My Fellow Aircrew Life Support, Survival Equipment, and Aircrew Flight Equipment Professionals, this year marks the 70th year of the existence of our profession and is an opportunity to celebrate the accomplishments that have been made from our beginnings to what we are now. We remain committed to the safety of our crewmembers and passengers through the diligence and professionalism you have shown over our 70 years of existence.
Today, as Aircrew Flight Equipment (AFE), our profession continues that tradition. We continue the path of those who came before us and strive to build a better career field while maintaining quality equipment and training for our aviators. We acknowledge that this journey is not finished, yet we remain committed to the work ahead to ensure all can serve to their full potential.
As a new year dawns, we will again gather as a profession on October 9-13, 2023, in Virginia Beach, VA, for our 26th annual reunion being held in conjunction with the annual SAFE Symposium. This is a great opportunity to celebrate our 70th year as a profession, reminisce with old friends, meet some of the people who got us where we are today, and introduce us to the next generation.
Each of you is truly appreciated and valued. I would like to extend a very special thank you to those working to keep our aviators safe and secure throughout the years both at home and abroad. As we celebrate our 70th year as a profession, you remain an indispensable teammate to the past, present, and future providing our country and our Air Force with the airpower needed to defend our Great Nation.
Your Life is Our Business!
Respectfully,
William L. Ricketts, President
USAF Aircrew Life Support/Aircrew Flight Equipment (ALS/AFE)
Veterans and Retirees Group
My fellow Personal Equipment, Life Support Equipment, brothers and sisters, although I no longer dabble in the Air crew protection business, I continue to try to assist all my brothers and sisters in arms.
With more than 20 years in the Air Force (1960-1981) and more than 20 years working for the Pennsylvania Department of Labor as a Veterans Employment representative, Attaining the office of State president of the Air Force Association and having held state offices with the VFW as well as being the Commander of the local VFW, DAV and also an active Life Member of the American Legion, Air Commando Association and the pleiku Association, I was especially please to have been included in a Chapter of the book “The Men of Pleiku” Published by the Pleiku Association what an Honor that was.
I Congratulate all of you for your tenacity in making this association, maintaining and growing it over this 70 year span. Keep up the great work and the best of luck to each and everyone of you.
Bob McElwain deserves most of the credit for the longevity.
great to hear about the 70th anniversary of our career field. I started in 1966 and left the AF in 1969.
Can’t image how much it changed in since then.
Thanks for the update
Is there an address where I can mail photos?
Contact Kevin Divers at the following email address for info on sending him photos.
[email protected]