The U.S. Air Force released a new promotional video Thursday titled A Legacy Forged by Warriors, honoring the 250-year legacy of American military service as the nation approaches its July 4 celebration. The video, which features clips of Air Force technology and servicemembers throughout the decades, is narrated by UFC president and CEO Dana White.
Published to the Air Force’s official YouTube channel and social media accounts, the video spans the full arc of American military history – from the soldiers and sailors of the Revolutionary War era to the Airmen serving today. It frames military service as a tradition carried forward through generations rather than belonging to any one era.
Closing with the Air Force’s motto, “Fly. Fight. Win.,” the video strikes a tone that one could argue is equal parts tribute to historical figures and a call to action for modern viewers, urging the next generation to “raise their hand, take that oath, and become part of something bigger than themselves.”
The release comes as all branches of the U.S. military mark major historical milestones. The Army, Navy, and Marine Corps each celebrated their 250th anniversaries in 2025 (as they were established prior to the formal founding of the United States). The national commemoration will culminate on Independence Day this year.
While the Air Force itself was established as an independent branch on September 18, 1947 – born from the U.S. Army Air Forces – its roots in American airpower stretch back through two world wars and beyond.
The Air Force itself may only be approaching its 80th anniversary, but America’s emphasis on airpower actually dates back to the very establishment of military aviation itself, when the world’s first military aircraft, the Wright Military Flier, was delivered to the U.S. Army in 1909.
That military aviation heritage is considerable.
From the barnstorming aviators of World War I to the strategic bombing campaigns of World War II, the jet aces of Korea and Vietnam, to the precision strike missions of the Gulf War and the sustained air campaigns of the post-9/11 era, American airpower has been a decisive force in virtually every major conflict of the last century.
As Dr. Rebecca Grant, the vice president of the Lexington Institute, once put it, air dominance has become the cornerstone of every phase of conflict in American warfighting doctrine.
Today, the Air Force operates the world’s largest and most advanced fleet of combat aircraft, including the F-22 Raptor, F-35 Lightning II, and the B-2 Spirit, while the B-21 Raider continues on course to enter service potentially as soon as next year, and America’s new 6th-generation air superiority fighter, the F-47, being built by Boeing, is expected to follow soon thereafter.
The video’s emphasis on inter-generational continuity, with lines like “that fighting spirit doesn’t belong to one generation; it gets passed down, earned, carried forward,” reflects more than the Air Force’s technical successes or even tactical victories.
By anchoring present-day service to a 250-year tradition of sacrifice and national defense, the Air Force is reminding today’s viewers that the war heroes of our past were not mythical figures, but rather everyday Americans who rose to the challenges of their time, just as the new generation of Americans can today.
Feature Image courtesy of U.S. Air Force
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