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More About the Alumni |
As we noted earlier in the AACS Alumni History the Association
was created in 1977 and has been growing ever since. We have well over 2,300 members and
continue to grow each year. The original Association was comprised of individuals who
served in the Army Airways Communication System, Army Airways Communications Wing, Air
Communications Service and/or the Airways and Air Communications Service. In 1995 a
proposal was made to expand the Alumni Association to include individuals who also served
in the Air Force Communications Service and the Air Force Communications Command. The
reason for the expansion of membership criteria was the fact that each of the new
organizations were follow-on organizations and missions were the same and at the time were
simply name changes. This proposal was adopted and the Alumni Association began to enroll
new members who did not serve in either of the AACS organizations. While we do not keep
records to accurately reflect totals of prior service, we do have a considerable number of
members who served in AACS, AFCS, and AFCC with approximately 50 or more that served
in all three of these commands. Again in 2003, the membership voted to expand eligibilty
to those individuals who served in or are serving in the Air Force Command, Control,
Communications & Computer Agency (AFC4A), the Air Force Communications Agency (AFCA),
Air Force Flight Standards Agency (AFFSA) and/or any of the past or current Major Air
commands. The criteria is simply "if you ever served in any communications or
air traffic control unit, in any skill set you are eligible for membership.
The specific breakdown of skills of our members is not available but our best estimates
are that approximately 35% of our members have an Air Traffic Control background; 35%
served in some type of communications, crypto, teletype, message center and radio
operations, etc. and the remaining 30% served in everything from commanders, flight check
pilots, crew members, personnel, supply, and all kinds of maintenance of crypto, teletype,
radio, nav-aids, etc.. to finance clerks. We are really a diverse group who in our Air
Force days were part of a great outfit, doing lots of different things to support the Air
Force's theme: "Fly, Fight, Win." We can be proud of the Air Traffic Control and
Communications support that over the years have contributed to the Air Force's success.
We are comprised of "lifers", and "one termers". About
85% are enlisted and we have over 50 General Officers (most retired, but some still
on active duty).
Our goals are to foster fellowship and hold annual conventions and Air Force briefings
each year in different parts of the country to meet old friends and make new ones. We
continue to strive to keep our annual dues at its current $10 a year. We reach out
to members attending their first convention to make them feel welcome and to help
establish relationships that will endure through later conventions.
Each Year since 2006, we have honored the Air Traffic Controller and the Communications/Information Professional of the year. The Air Force makes the selections of their outstanding airman in the grade of E-1 to E-5. We present them with an AACS Eagle, Certificate or Plaque, $100 and make them Life Members in the Association at our annual convention.
"Fellowship in the Company of
Equals"
One current goal is for each member to recruit one new member a year and
help our Association continue to grow and prosper.
"EACH MEMBER IS THE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION"