Air Force to celebrate 69th birthday, JBER to host ball Published Aug. 22, 2016 By Staff Sgt. Wes Wright Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson Public Affairs JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska -- The U.S. Air Force turns 69 September 18. For some, that number might invoke the cringe-worthy, “Man, I’m getting old” or perhaps “Age is just a number. You’re only as old as you feel.” Many of its members might argue the world’s greatest air and space power hasn’t even begun to hit its prime yet. Although not officially its own branch of service until 1947, the antecedents of what would later be the Air Force came about in 1907 under the umbrella of the U.S. Army in the form of an aeronautical division. At that point, powered flight had only been birthed by the Wright brothers about four years earlier. The “Air Force” began to crawl with advent of World War I. During this time, the tactical advantage of airpower became something military strategists had to account for. It wasn’t until World War II that advances in technology and scientific understanding of flight and its military applications began to paint a picture of the absolute criticality of air superiority. WWII ended in 1945, but the foundation for a modern Air Force had been built and it’s criticality now unquestioned. The Air Force was now walking. During the course of the Vietnam and Korean Wars, that walk turned into a jog. The service was growing up. By the time the Gulf War rolled around in 1991, the Air Force was at a dead run, and no one else in the world was close. In terms of the recent Rio Olympic games, if there were a category for Air Forces, the United States would have taken gold by a wide margin, probably silver and bronze as well. Each year, at some point in September, Air Force personnel at bases and units around the globe take time out to commemorate heritage and demonstrate pride in the form of an Air Force birthday ball. Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson will host its ball Sept. 24 at the Egan Center; the theme is ‘Global Reach, Top Cover.’ With the construction of Elmendorf Field beginning in 1940, components of JBER predate the official birthdate of the Air Force. Air Force Col. George T.M. Dietrich III, 673 Air Base Wing and JBER commander, said celebrating the milestone is important not only for JBER, but for the entire Air Force. “Our arctic warriors at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, have been supporting our nation for more than 70 years,” Dietrich said. “From the very first F-51s to the F-102s and now the world's greatest F-22 Raptor, we have always provided an umbrella of security and preparedness for our nation. The people, aircraft and infrastructure have changed over the years, but the one thing that has never changed is our presence in the Pacific theater. This milestone is important for JBER and for the entire Air Force because it signifies nearly seven decades of unwavering dedication to, and defense of, our nation.” According to the ball’s organizer, Air Force Maj. Karl Bituin, 673d Medical Support Squadron inpatient pharmacy chief, the ball celebration highlights the total force concept of the Air Force. “It ties together all Airmen - whether you work on aircraft, in the medical group, or in civil engineering,” Bituin said. “I think we get busy with our day-to-day mission and the Air Force ball is a time to reflect and potentially reset. Our goal for the Air Force ball this year is to bring the Air Force members of JBER together for fellowship and camaraderie to honor Air Force tradition.” ‘Global Reach, Top Cover’ were carefully chosen for the celebration this year because it highlights one of the 673d Air Base Wing’s priorities: Sustaining America’s arctic power projection platform. “Our ability to deploy our joint forces to anywhere in the world within hours, makes our capabilities unmatched throughout the Department of Defense,” Dietrich said. As Air Force leaders continue to preach the message of evolving and adapting to today’s challenges, Dietrich pointed to history as critical to ensuring today’s Air Force can do just that. “It is important to remember and commemorate our heritage so the sacrifices of the men and women who have gone before us are not forgotten,” Dietrich said. “Each new military member who arrives at JBER builds upon a strong legacy. The best way to have a vision for the future is to understand the past; and we are where we are today because we constantly build upon those lessons learned by our predecessors. Commemorating our heritage helps us keep proper perspective on how far our technology and skillsets have advanced.” For more information on the Air Force ball, or to obtain tickets visit: https://jberafball.com/ Ticket sales close Sept. 9.