Deborah Lee James is a step closer to becoming the next Air Force secretary. The Senate Armed Services Committee voted in favor of her nomination on Tuesday morning, a congressional staffer said. None of the senators objected to her nomination, which now must be voted on by the full Senate. If confirmed, James would replace Michael Donley, who retired as Air Force secretary in June. Eric Fanning has served as acting secretary since. At her Sept. 19 confirmation hearing, James told lawmakers that to the best of her knowledge, the Air Force has not decided whether to get rid of…
Browsing: sexual assaults
Earlier this week, I wrote about a computer glitch that was keeping the public in the dark when it came to upcoming courts-martial. I’m happy to report the problem has been solved. The courts-martial docket, found on the Judge Advocate General website, is up and running. The first names of the accused have also been restored; earlier this year, first names were replaced with first initials. The docket is an important tool. The public — reporters such as myself included — can use it to stay up to date on Air Force prosecutions. When a case appears on the docket,…
Facing the need to retain quality airmen as it gets smaller, the Air Force is considering holding promotion boards for technical sergeants who want to advance to master sergeant. In this week’s Air Force Times, we explain why the Air Force thinks holding boards for master sergeant would be a good move and when it might be implemented. Also this week: The Air Force is giving senior noncommissioned officers until Nov. 30 to finish version 5 of Course 14 before it implements a new distance learning course for NCOs about to enter the Senior NCO Academy. We explain the change…
Facing the need to retain quality airmen as it gets smaller, the Air Force is considering holding promotion boards for technical sergeants who want to advance to master sergeant. In this week’s Air Force Times, we explain why the Air Force thinks holding boards for master sergeant would be a good move and when it might be implemented. Also this week: The Air Force is giving senior noncommissioned officers until Nov. 30 to finish version 5 of Course 14 before it implements a new distance learning course for NCOs about to enter the Senior NCO Academy. We explain the change…
The Air Force is taking a page from the Cold War playbook to plan for deployments to the Asia-Pacific region. You can read how rotations to Australia and elsewhere in the Pacific will be modeled after the “Checkered Flag” deployments. While the Air Force is increasing its presence in the region, budget cuts have forced Pacific Air Forces to curtail exercises. See which exercises have been put on hold. Facing decreasing defense budgets for the foreseeable future, the Air Force is looking into how many aircraft and bases it needs and making big changes in the active-reserve mix to save…
The Air Force is taking a page from the Cold War playbook to plan for deployments to the Asia-Pacific region. You can read how rotations to Australia and elsewhere in the Pacific will be modeled after the “Checkered Flag” deployments. While the Air Force is increasing its presence in the region, budget cuts have forced Pacific Air Forces to curtail exercises. See which exercises have been put on hold. Facing decreasing defense budgets for the foreseeable future, the Air Force is looking into how many aircraft and bases it needs and making big changes in the active-reserve mix to save…
Two women who say they were raped while serving in the military have told CNN that embattled San Diego Mayor Bob Filner made unwanted advances toward them after they met him at an event for female veterans. Nearly a dozen women have come forward in recent weeks to accuse Filner, a 10-term congressman from California who is in his first term as mayor of San Diego, of making unwanted sexual advances. He has refused to step down despite repeated calls to do so. In a report dated Wednesday, retired Air Force Master Sgt. Eldonna Fernandez told CNN that she has…
The Air Force has announced changes to officer training to accommodate single parents, military spouses and pregnant women. In this week’s edition, you can read what prompted the Air Force to make these changes and how they affect women who become pregnant during training. Also this week, the latest staff sergeant promotion rate is the worst in 15 years. Air Force Times looks at why there are fewer opportunities for enlisted airmen to advance. Meanwhile, the Air Force is soliciting suggestions from airmen to solve its toughest problems, from how to save money to how to prevent sexual assaults. Vice…
The Air Force has announced changes to officer training to accommodate single parents, military spouses and pregnant women. In this week’s edition, you can read what prompted the Air Force to make these changes and how they affect women who become pregnant during training. Also this week, the latest staff sergeant promotion rate is the worst in 15 years. Air Force Times looks at why there are fewer opportunities for enlisted airmen to advance. Meanwhile, the Air Force is soliciting suggestions from airmen to solve its toughest problems, from how to save money to how to prevent sexual assaults. Vice…
Starting today, eligible enlisted airmen and officers with between 15 and 19 years of service can apply for retirement. This week’s Air Force Times explains who is eligible and how much money you can expect to get if you are approved for early retirement. Also in this week’s edition: Security forces are bearing the brunt of DOS rollbacks. You can read why they represent an increasing portion of airmen who are being forced out of the service. Meanwhile, the Air Force has issued new guidance about how to conduct themselves in social media. Air Force Times gives you five things…
