The base-closure explosion that shook the country last Friday threw so many burning chunks in so many directions that no one can quite peg the winners and losers yet. All parties suffered, but who came out ahead—USAF leaders, who sought to consolidate and shrink Air National Guard assets, or the state governors and adjutants general, who vigorously resisted that effort? The BRAC commission wrapped up work late Friday with its decisions on ANG bases and units. Yet it hasn’t filed its public report, and neither the Pentagon nor Air Force have issued statements of satisfaction or disappointment. We will have more on this as detailed results become available. As can be seen below, however, neither side escaped unbloodied. The future now promises lawsuits, recriminations, and protests.
In the face of Chinese war plans to disrupt U.S. command-and-control networks in the event of a conflict, the Air Force needs to focus less on its “connect everything” efforts and prepare its combat aviators to fight without a constant connection to higher-ups, according to a new report from AFA’s…
