The Air Force has declared Eglin Air Force Base “ready” to begin training the first students in the F-35A Lightning II. Four pilots provided a “test case” to evaluate the unit’s readiness:
During the [evaluation], experienced pilots transitioned from the F-16 and A-10 aircraft, to the world’s first multi-role stealth fighter. Two Read more
The AF.mil article announcing the Air Force “health and welfare” inspections has become a repository for interesting stories about how inspections are being conducted locally. Two interesting replies:
12/7/2012 8:13:40 AM ET
We had a team of inspectors come through my workcenter yesterday. They took down all of our photos of aircraft with nose art because someone might be offended. They also made me take down a USO photo of the dallas cowboy cheerleaders that was signed thanking my shop for our service…mitch, sheppard
Targeting nose art is an interesting choice, given the Air Force itself displays traditional “pin up” nose art the National Museum of the Air Force. For the time being, the Wright Patt base commander, Col Cassie Barlow, has Read more
Most recent articles on the high visibility sexual scandals in the Air Force have focused on charges of sexual assault, largely with reference to the Lackland basic training incidents. Despite a fairly thorough article at the New York Times (which included that topic), almost no one has been talking about Air Force Technical Sergeant Jennifer Smith — who is threatening to sue the US Air Force over the sexually-charged atmosphere in the fighter pilot world. (The Air Force Times picked up on the story just days ago.)
This is particularly notable in light of the recent “health and welfare inspection” ordered by Chief of Staff of the Air Force Gen Mark Welsh, since the inspection seems to precisely target some of TSgt’s Smith’s allegations (yet the media continues to connect it to other accusations). Notably, there are reports Shaw AFB — where TSgt Smith reportedly lodged the complaint — did a “health and welfare” inspection weeks before Gen Welsh ordered it Air Force wide. The organization representing TSgt Smith, “Protecting our Defenders,” certainly made the connection.
As noted in the New York Times more than a month ago, TSgt Smith has filed an “administrative complaint” (PDF, with attachments) that reads much like a primer on the vices of the fighter pilot world. She seeks Read more
Another article, this time from USA Today, paints the Air Force with the “new culture” mantra in light of the modern emphasis on UAVs, RPA, and other unmanned vehicles:
The rise of drone warfare has meant a dramatic cultural shift for the Air Force…
Like other media reports on the topic, the article doesn’t really say what the “dramatic cultural shift” actually is. (It does take a swipe at fighter pilots, saying Read more
Air Force Chief of Staff General Mark Welsh ordered his wing commanders to conduct “health and welfare inspections” with the intent of fostering respect and professionalism. The Air Force announcement was fairly benign:
Commanders across the Air Force will conduct health and welfare inspections…to emphasize an environment of respect, trust and professionalism in the workplace…
Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark A. Welsh III tasked commanders…to examine their work settings and ensure Airmen at all levels consistently apply standards of professionalism and respect across the service.
The Air Force Times took a more direct approach, saying the target was material that “objectif[ies] women:”
Commanders and supervisors in all corners of the Air Force Read more
The X-47, an experimental unmanned “combat air system,” has been hoisted onto the USS Truman for “carrier deck handling tests.” Presumably, these tests do not yet include carrier launches or landings (though a catapult launch on a land-based site has already occurred, complete with PR video).
Current generation unmanned vehicles essentially began their lives as surveillance assets and were modified to carry weapons. The progeny of the X-47 will be combat attack vehicles by design, and may even have autonomous capabilities.
Observers will be forgiven if their first thought is “Skynet.”
The ACLU and four female servicemembers have sued the Department of Defense because the DoD officially excludes women from (some) combat roles. (This is the second such suit to be filed this year, though “ACLU” may get a little more attention than “University of Virginia.”) The justification is largely similar to that which supported the repeal of DADT and the recent legalization of marijuana in some states: People are doing it anyway, so it might as well be made official.
In fact, the ACLU almost explicitly borrows the DADT mantra Read more
Prepare to hang up those polyester pants, ladies and gentlemen.
As reported in the Air Force Times, Chief of Staff of the Air Force General Mark Welsh “decided not to renew” the Air Force-wide “blues Mondays” instituted by his predecessor, Gen Schwartz (a widely-panned decision noted even in the infamous Dear Boss letter). This means the authority for the uniform policy reverts to the MAJCOM, rather than HQ Air Force, level:
Accordingly, both Air Force Space Command and Air Force Special Operations Command have ended Blues Mondays. Other major commands, Read more