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  • 7 Jun 2026 11:03 PM | Yvonne Vermillion (Administrator)



    On Saturday, June 6, members and volunteers from the Air & Space Forces Association (AFA) Wright Memorial Chapter and the Air Force Sergeants Association (AFSA) Chapter 751 came together to host their annual Veterans Affairs Picnic at the Dayton VA Medical Center.

    The picnic is a longstanding tradition that provides an opportunity to thank our nation's veterans for their service while enjoying great food, fellowship, music, and camaraderie. Events like these remind our veterans that their sacrifices are remembered and deeply appreciated.

    This year's event was made possible through the dedication of many volunteers who generously gave their time to serve those who have served our country. The collaboration between AFA Chapter 212 and AFSA Chapter 751 continues to demonstrate the strength of our shared commitment to supporting the military and veteran community.

    Special recognition goes to Vita Eonta (AFA Wright Memorial Chapter) and Judy Garcia (AFSA Chapter 751), whose leadership and coordination helped make this annual event another tremendous success.

    The chapter would also like to thank:

    • The Wright Patterson First Sergeants for their continued support and volunteer efforts.
    • Kearney & Company for their generous support of the event.
    • Geoff Oliver ("Ollie") for providing outstanding musical entertainment that added to the festive atmosphere throughout the day.

    Most importantly, thank you to every volunteer who donated their time and energy to make this event special. Your dedication reflects the AFA mission of honoring our Airmen, Guardians, veterans, and their families while strengthening the bonds within our military community.

    To all of the veterans who joined us, thank you for your service, your sacrifice, and your unwavering commitment to our nation. It was our privilege to spend the day celebrating you.





  • 4 Jun 2026 1:27 PM | Yvonne Vermillion (Administrator)
     The Air & Space Forces Association (AFA) Wright Memorial Chapter is proud to recognize the incredible teamwork and dedication of the volunteers who recently helped relocate the Wright-Patterson Airman's Attic to better serve our military families.

    On May 22, the Wright-Patterson Airman's Attic was notified by the Base Chaplain's Office that it would be relocating from the third floor to the building's auditorium level. The move was designed to improve accessibility for young Airmen and their families, especially parents with small children, by eliminating the need to carry strollers, children, and household items up three flights of stairs.

    With very little notice, volunteers sprang into action.

    During the weekend of May 23, an outstanding team of young Airmen joined dedicated volunteers to move shelving, clothing racks, furniture, and thousands of donated household items to the new location. Thanks to their hard work and teamwork, the entire facility was successfully relocated in just a few days.

    The effort didn't stop there.

    Volunteers spent the following week carefully organizing merchandise, restocking shelves, arranging displays, and preparing the new space to welcome patrons. Their dedication paid off, as the Airman's Attic officially reopened its doors on June 2, ensuring there was no lengthy interruption in service to the military families who depend on it.

    The Wright-Patterson Airman's Attic is one of the most utilized organizations within the Chapel Support Center, providing free clothing, household goods, baby items, and other essential necessities to junior enlisted Airmen and their families. By moving to the first floor, the facility is now more accessible and convenient for the families it serves every day.

    The Wright Memorial Chapter is especially proud of Anna Schulte, Colonel (Retired), USAFR, Director of the Chapter's AFJROTC and Civil Air Patrol Programs, who serves as one of the Airman's Attic's dedicated volunteer leaders. Her continued commitment, along with the efforts of the entire volunteer team, exemplifies AFA's mission of supporting our Airmen, Guardians, and their families.

    The AFA Wright Memorial Chapter extends its sincere appreciation to every volunteer and young Airman who contributed to this remarkable effort. Your willingness to step up on short notice and work tirelessly ensured that military families continued receiving the support they rely on without missing a beat.

    Service before self isn't just a motto—it's demonstrated every day by volunteers like these.



  • 15 May 2026 6:00 PM | Tyler Johnson (Administrator)

    The annual VA2K event encourages people to live active lifestyles and allows participants to support homeless Veterans through voluntary donations of food and clothing items. The Dayton VA medical center held its event on Friday, May 15th. The VA2K event included a short two-kilometer walk (1.24 miles) around the VA campus and around the grotto.  Members from the Wright Memorial Chapter of the AFA took advantage of the nice weather to walk and supported this event with a donation of beef jerky snacks. 

          

    Pictured are Jill Willingham-Allen and her sister Joyce, and John and Vita Eonta.

  • 12 May 2026 3:30 PM | Yvonne Vermillion (Administrator)

    The Air & Space Forces Association Wright Memorial Chapter was honored to help lead the community commemoration recognizing the 60th anniversary of the heroic actions of Airman First Class William H. "Bill" Pitsenbarger, United States Air Force Medal of Honor recipient.

    Held on April 11, 2026, the event brought together Airmen, veterans, community leaders, elected officials, members of the Pitsenbarger family, and citizens from across the Miami Valley to remember one of the Air Force's greatest heroes. During the Vietnam War, A1C Pitsenbarger voluntarily descended into an intense firefight to rescue and care for wounded Soldiers, ultimately sacrificing his own life while saving others. His extraordinary heroism was later recognized with the Medal of Honor.

    We are grateful that WDTN featured this special commemoration, helping share Bill Pitsenbarger's remarkable story and ensuring his legacy of courage, sacrifice, and selfless service continues to inspire future generations.

    The Wright Memorial Chapter extends its sincere appreciation to our many partners, volunteers, guest speakers, and everyone who participated in making this tribute a meaningful and memorable event.

    We invite you to watch WDTN's television feature highlighting A1C Pitsenbarger's legacy and the community's efforts to honor his service.

    Watch the WDTN Feature

    https://www.wdtn.com/as-seen-on-2-news/william-bill-pitsenbarger-us-air-force-pararescueman-parajumper/#/questions/5882795



  • 5 May 2026 10:21 PM | Yvonne Vermillion (Administrator)


    The Air & Space Forces Association (AFA) Wright Memorial Chapter is proud to congratulate the Beavercreek High School AFJROTC Drill Team on an outstanding performance at the 2026 National High School Drill Team Championships held May 2–3 in Daytona Beach, Florida.

    Through the generous support of our members and community partners, the Wright Memorial Chapter helped sponsor the team's travel to the national competition. We are honored to invest in programs that develop leadership, discipline, teamwork, and character in our nation's future leaders.

    The Beavercreek AFJROTC cadets represented Ohio with excellence, earning multiple national titles and top finishes against the best drill teams in the country.

    Division II Unarmed (B-2 Squad)
    • National Champions – Overall Division II Unarmed
    • 1st Place – Inspection
    • 1st Place – Exhibition
    • 5th Place – Regulation

    Competing against 16 elite teams from across the nation, the B-2 squad captured the Overall Division II Unarmed National Championship, earning the title of the nation's best.

    Division I Armed (B-1 Squad)
    The B-1 squad also delivered an exceptional performance, finishing among the nation's elite in a highly competitive field of 18 teams.

    Their accomplishments included:
    • 1st Place – Inspection
    • 1st Place – Color Guard

    The team also celebrated another outstanding achievement as Staff Sergeant Trey Davidson of the Ohio Air National Guard's 178th Wing repeated as the World Drill Champion Soloist, continuing a remarkable tradition of excellence.

    These accomplishments are a testament to the hard work and dedication of the cadets, instructors, coaches, families, and volunteers who support the Beavercreek AFJROTC program throughout the year.

    The AFA Wright Memorial Chapter is committed to supporting programs that inspire young people to pursue leadership, citizenship, military service, and careers in aerospace. Congratulations to every cadet who represented Beavercreek High School with professionalism and pride on the national stage.

    Go Bombers!

    Supporting AFJROTC and Civil Air Patrol programs is one of the many ways the AFA Wright Memorial Chapter fulfills its mission of developing America's future Airmen, Guardians, and aerospace leaders.


  • 18 Apr 2026 10:00 AM | Tyler Johnson (Administrator)

    The Wright Memorial Chapter proudly announces Cadet Master Sergeant (C/MSgt) Aryah Pritchett of Wayne High School as the recipient of this year’s AFA JROTC Award.


    The AFA Award is presented annually to a cadet who exemplifies the highest standards of leadership, academic achievement, and character within their Air Force Junior ROTC unit. Despite being a first-year cadet, C/MSgt Pritchett has already distinguished herself through her dedication, professionalism, and commitment to excellence.

    C/MSgt Pritchett’s aspirations extend well beyond high school. She has expressed a strong desire to attend the United States Air Force Academy, where she hopes to pursue a career in medicine and ultimately serve as a physician in the United States Air Force. Her ambition to combine military service with a calling to help others reflects the AFA’s core values.


  • 2 Apr 2026 12:00 PM | Tyler Johnson (Administrator)

    The Air & Space Forces Association is proud to celebrate an extraordinary season for the Beavercreek High School AFJROTC Bombers Drill Team, whose success continues to inspire our local community.


    Most recently, the Bombers earned first place overall at the Tecumseh Regional Drill Meet, officially clinching their fourth consecutive State of Ohio Drill Championship. This remarkable accomplishment reflects the discipline, teamwork, and leadership these cadets have demonstrated throughout the season.

    The excitement surrounding this season extends well beyond Ohio. The team also recently competed in the Air Force Open National Drill Championships, where they were crowned National Champions in both the Armed and Unarmed Divisions for the third consecutive year. Their outstanding performance included first place finishes in six of eight events, along with two second place finishes.

    Our chapter is honored to support programs like this by providing funding for the trophies awarded to the winners of each division. Recognizing the dedication and excellence of these cadets is one of the many ways AFA WMC helps encourage leadership development and celebrate the next generation of aerospace minded leaders.

    The regional meet was also especially meaningful as the team took time to recognize its seniors prior to the final local competition of the year. It was a special moment to honor the students whose leadership and commitment helped shape this championship legacy.

    With this momentum, the Bombers are now headed to Daytona Beach for the All Service Nationals, where they will continue representing their school, community, and the values that organizations like AFA proudly support.

    Congratulations to the Bombers Drill Team on an incredible season, and thank you to our members for continuing to support programs that inspire young leaders across our community.

  • 2 Mar 2026 8:00 AM | Tyler Johnson (Administrator)


    The Wright-Memorial Chapter of the Air & Space Forces Association continues to make a meaningful impact in STEM education by sponsoring the drone club at Spinning Hills Middle School in the Mad River Local School District.

    This past Saturday, the club's two talented teams took part in the Greene County Career Center Drone Competition—a challenging event that drew 16 registered teams from across the region.

    The students performed impressively during the morning qualification rounds, securing 5th and 7th place finishes. These strong showings earned both teams a spot in the afternoon finals, where they competed head-to-head against the top 8 teams overall.

           

    In the finals, one of the drones experienced a hardware malfunction that significantly impacted their score compared to their morning performance. As the coach noted, however, the outcome might not have changed much—the opposing teams were exceptionally strong competitors that day.

    Despite the setback, the boys' team stood out for their technical excellence. They were honored with the Judges' Award in recognition of their outstanding coding abilities, code improvements throughout the competition, and consistently high performance. Adding to the achievement, the boys earned the highest single score of the entire day with an impressive 190 points.

    The coach expressed deep gratitude for the ongoing support from the Wright-Memorial Chapter, whose sponsorship helps provide these hands-on opportunities for students to explore drone technology, programming, engineering, and teamwork—skills that are increasingly vital in today's aerospace and STEM fields.

    Congratulations to all the Spinning Hills Drone Club members on their hard work, resilience, and accomplishments! Events like this highlight the bright future of young innovators in the Miami Valley and beyond.

    Keep an eye out for more updates from the club as they continue to soar to new heights.

  • 24 Feb 2026 10:20 PM | Yvonne Vermillion (Administrator)

    The Air & Space Forces Association Wright Memorial Chapter 212 is proud to support the mission of the WPAFB Airman's Attic through a $1,000 donation for 2025.

    The chapter recently received a Certificate of Appreciation from Anna Schulte, Volunteer Manager of the Airman’s Attic, recognizing the chapter’s continued commitment to supporting Airmen and their families. The donation will directly assist more than 10,600 young military members and their families who rely on the Airman’s Attic each year.

    The Airman’s Attic plays a vital role within the Wright-Patterson Air Force Base community by providing essential household items, clothing, baby supplies, and other necessities at no cost to junior enlisted and officer members and their families. For many, this resource offers meaningful financial relief during PCS moves, deployments, and other transitional periods.

    In her message of appreciation, Ms. Schulte expressed sincere thanks on behalf of the military families served, noting that the chapter’s generosity directly strengthens the support network available to Airmen at Wright-Patterson AFB.

    The Wright Memorial Chapter is honored to contribute to an organization that so clearly reflects the Air & Space Forces Association’s commitment to supporting Airmen, Guardians, and their families. We are grateful for the volunteers who make the Airman’s Attic possible and proud to stand alongside them in service to those who serve our nation.


  • 15 Feb 2026 5:00 PM | Tyler Johnson (Administrator)

    2026 AFA Dayton TechFest Participation

    The AFA Wright Memorial Chapter in partnership with the Ohio Cyber Reserve (OhCR), the Engineers Club of Dayton, and the National Museum of the United States Air Force (NMUSAF) staffed a cybersecurity education Information table at the Dayton TechFest on February 14-15, 2026.

    Dayton TechFest is an annual, free, two-day STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) event held in February in Dayton, Ohio.  It’s designed for families, students, educators, and anyone interested in technology and hands-on learning experiences. TechFest takes place at Sinclair Community College with a primary youth focus is on school-age children, especially K-12 students.  Additional information is available on the  TechFest web site at https://www.techfestdayton.org/ 

    Attendance for the 2026 event is estimated at approximately 2,500 participants, including at least 1,000 K-12 students.

    Although presenters discussed a variety of cybersecurity education opportunities, the primary focus was on AFA-supported programs, including:

    • National Youth Cyber Defense Competition (NYCDC)
    • AFA Summer CyberCamps
    • Elementary School Cyber Education Initiative (ESCEI)
    • Cyber Generations

    More information on these programs can be found on the CyberPatriot website:
    https://www.uscyberpatriot.org/

    A key opportunity emphasized during the event was the ability for schools, scouting units, and other youth organizations to host free remote AFA Summer CyberCamps in coordination with the NMUSAF CyberCamps.

    The NMUSAF has funded the summer CyberCamps for 2026 and is seeking to expand remote participation across Ohio — and potentially nationwide. Once an organization sponsors a primary onsite CyberCamp, it may host additional remote sites simultaneously at no additional registration cost.

    The 2026 NMUSAF camp schedule is as follows:

    • Standard CyberCamp: July 13–17, 2026
    • Advanced CyberCamp: July 20–24, 2026

    Both camps are held as half-day sessions during the week, concluding with a competition on Friday.  

    Under this remote-hosting model, the remote site is responsible for:

    • Providing facility
    • Ensuring appropriate adult chaperones/supervision
    • Supplying student laptops or desktop computers


    Points of Contact

    For hosting or coordinating a remote CyberCamp:

    Aaron Napierala
    Ohio Cyber Reserve – Point of Contact
    Email: aaron.napierala@ucmail.uc.edu
    Phone: 470-588-1627

    For information on other cybersecurity education programs:

    Brian Kowal
    Director of CyberPatriot
    AFA Wright Memorial Chapter
    Ohio Cyber Reserve – Educate Mission Lead
    Email: kowalbn@ucmail.uc.edu


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