In this week’s Air Force Times:
The Air Force continues to struggle with the role of religion in the military. The new head of the Defense Information Systems Agency recently gave a presentation at his first commander’s call that told airmen to “Always put God first, and stay within His will.”
This comes after Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz issued a memo in September warning service leaders to avoid even the appearance of proselytize.
“My intervention on this issue related to the very special relationship that commanders have with their subordinates,” Schwartz said at last week’s Air Force Association winter symposium. “It is unique. It is something that exists in the armed services that is not replicated elsewhere, and the fundamental point was for commanders to exercise care.”
Meanwhile, Air Force Special Operations Command has canceled plans to buy more than 2,000 iPads to store thousands of pages of flight instructions digitally.
A Toronto-based security and identity management firm claims AFSOC shelved its plan to buy iPads due to security concerns, but a command spokeswoman said security concerns were not a factor in its decision.
Air Mobility Command still plans to buy up to 18,000 iPads or equivalent computers.
In other news, a Selective Early Retirement Board selected 106 colonels for early retirement. The colonels, who have between 21 and 27 years of service, must leave the Air Force by June 1.
And retired Air Force Lt. Col. Michael Ross suffered career-ending injuries when a Navy pilot accidentally shot down his plane during war games in 1987. Now that Navy pilot has been nominated for a promotion to rear admiral. You can read what Ross has to say on the matter.
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