Four Air Force T-38 pilots are reportedly being investigated after executing a fly-by following the national anthem at the 20 November Iowa-Ohio State football game. Reports indicate they may have been below the required minimum altitude.
A variety of YouTube angles of the flyby are available, but even video is sometimes disputable. Quotes, on the other hand…
Maj. Chris Kopacek, one of the pilots, told The Des Moines Register Read more
As reported at FoxNews, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mike Mullen took those who might still support DADT to task:
Military members who have a problem with a change in policy to allow gays to serve openly may find themselves looking for a new job, Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, warned Thursday.
This seems consistent with prior leadership statements that those who support the current law could “vote with their feet.” However, to be fair, it seems the Admiral was excessively paraphrased. It seems the relevant quote is actually: Read more
Marine Corps Base Quantico recently announced it will be lighting the base “holiday tree” next week.
No word yet on whether they will also have a “holiday candelabrum.”
As previously noted, there is no military policy on public holiday celebrations on military facilities, though they are fairly common. While some have generic “holiday” events, other bases have not obscured the celebratory purposes, including Scott AFB, Illinois, Peterson AFB, CO, and Nellis AFB in Nevada:
The traditional Nellis AFB Christmas Tree and Menorah Lighting ceremony will be Dec. 3, 5:30 p.m., at the Chapel.
It appears the Capitol Christmas tree also remains traditionally named.
For the record, the Menorah lighting will actually be late. While many people think Hanukkah and Christmas coincide, the Jewish celebration actually started on December 1st this year.
In the Air Force Times tradition of simultaneously stating both nothing and the obvious, the paper recently reported the Air Force is planning to develop a replacement flight suit; it awarded a contract for research and development for a new “aircrew ensemble,” though virtually nothing is known about it.
The nearly $100 million effort is intended to develop an integrated system of flight gear components, including the flight suit. Tests are planned to begin in 2013.
…or maybe it does. The report, entitled Report of the Comprehensive Review of the Issues Associated with a Repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”, was released yesterday (available here, or at the DoD DADT website). The following is a list of highlights from the report.
Statistics and Questions
As noted previously, fun with numbers will likely allow both sides of the DADT debate to cite the report in favor of their position.
For example, one of the most frequently cited statistics (as here and here) is the statement that
When asked about how having a Service member in their immediate unit who said he or she is gay would affect the unit’s ability to “work together to get the job done,” 70% of Service members predicted it would have a positive, mixed, or no effect.
However, using precisely the same numbers, one could also say
When asked about how having a Service member in their immediate unit who said he or she is gay would affect the unit’s ability to “work together to get the job done,” 62% of Service members predicted it would have a negative or mixed effect.
Obviously, the second statement holds quite a different meaning than the first – yet both are entirely accurate.
One of the main disconnects is that many reports have conflated Read more
The New York Times chronicles the daily life of Soldiers of the 87th Infantry, with particular attention to what most Soldiers spend their time doing:
One moment, their sergeants are barking at them to stay ready, eyes focused, rifles loaded, protective gear at hand. In the next, the soldiers are searching for amusement, killing time with the skill of people who have had plenty of practice. Read more
As previously noted, the Air Force isn’t the only service with lethal technological toys.
The Army has reportedly fielded the XM25 in Afghanistan. The rifle-sized “Counter Defilade Target Engagement System” enables a Soldier to fire a projectile that will explode at a specific point in space; in short, he can kill the enemy hiding behind a wall.
With reports of increasing airstrikes and tanks being moved into Afghanistan, the XM25 may be another indicator of the military’s attempts to prevent a “fair” fight with its adversaries.
As noted several months ago, the Air Force has decided to reduce the size of its Chaplaincy. It has apparently transitioned from voluntary separations to forced departures:
Chaplains of all denominations will be involuntarily separated through a selective early retirement board and reduction-in-force process. Roman Catholic priests, in shortest supply across the military, are eligible to leave only through early retirement.
The Air Force reportedly has 528 Chaplains today, and could see as few as 465 by September 2011.