In what seems to be an annual event, another effort has been made in Congress to ban the Defense Department’s ability to sponsor teams or players in professional sporting events.
The $608 billion defense bill that passed the House Appropriations Committee on Thursday includes an amendment to prohibit Pentagon spending on NASCAR, professional fishing and professional wrestling events.
US Rep Betty McCollum (D-Minn) proposed the Read more
Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta has restricted the flight envelopes of the F-22 Raptor and ordered the Air Force to
take additional steps to mitigate risks to F-22 pilots, George Little, acting assistant secretary of defense for public affairs, said…
Panetta reportedly directed the Air Force to “expedite” the installation of a backup oxygen system, though that system won’t be ready until later this year anyway — and it will take nearly a year and a half to modify all the Raptors.
The Air Force as much as admitted its most recent response was a reaction Read more
Update: More than 1,600 museums are also free to military members this year.
As of May 19th, US National Parks are free of charge to active duty members of the US military and their families. The America the Beautiful Annual Pass, an $80 pass that covers entry into all National Parks, will be free to military members and lasts a year.
Interior Secretary Ken Salazar made the announcement this morning, along with National Park Service Director Jon Jarvis, at a ceremony Read more
The F-15C Eagle is an air-to-air fighter. That’s what it does, and that’s what its pilots love. In fact, saying the air-to-ground “b-word” (bomb) is even forbidden in the community (among other linguistic games).
That isn’t stopping the Eagles from trying out some of the air-to-ground toys.
The Air Force Times reports a National Guard F-15C unit has been testing a Sniper pod, an air-to-ground targeting pod, on its Eagles: Read more
News reports were aghast recently that the Air Force has decided to choose a Light Attack aircraft for delivery to the Afghan Air Force — which has undergone an arduous contract dispute already — without conducting a flyoff.
The Air Force will choose a winner in its troubled Light Air Support competition without actually flying the two contending planes, the Embraer Super Tucano and the Hawker-Beechcraft AT-6…
The decision puts the Air Force acquisition process back in the spotlight, where it has only suffered in the past.
General Mark Welsh, the current commander of USAFE, has been nominated by the President to become the next Chief of Staff of the Air Force. If confirmed, he would represent a return of the fighter pilot to the Chief position, which was filled for the first time by a non-fighter/bomber pilot with current Chief General Norton Schwartz.
“It’s always a great day to be an Airman … but this one is extra special for me. I came into the Air Force because I Read more
Three military men are vying for the National Fatherhood Award, sponsored by the National Fatherhood Initiative. The award, which includes undisclosed prize packages, will be presented near Father’s Day. Until May 25th, you can vote for your pick at the Initiative’s Facebook page, where you can watch videos produced by the three finalists. The contenders include two officers and a young enlisted troop; all three have impressive stories: Read more
The Air Force announced two F-22 pilots who spoke in uniform and without permission to 60 Minutes, Maj. Jeremy Gordon and Capt. Josh Wilson, will be granted protection under the Military Whistleblower Protection Act.
Lt. Gen. Janet Wolfenbarger…said the service considers the two pilots who have refused to fly the Raptor to be whistle-blowers and protected under the federal whistle-blower act.
The act protects members of the military who make a protected communication to a member of Congress, one of whom was present with them on the set.