Judge Padova had been given a big case to handle in the Pennsylvania Air National Guard dispute. (see DR, 8/25/05). His shocking decision: The Pentagon does not have the legal right, absent the consent of the Governor, to eliminate the Pennsylvania ANG’s 111th Fighter Wing, stationed at NAS Willow Grove. The Pentagon had also proposed closing the Willow Grove facility itself, but the lawsuit only addressed the status of the wing. At least two other states have filed similar lawsuits for ANG units in their states. The Pentagon will have no choice but to vigorously challenge the ruling on appeal, given the damage such a ruling does to its force structure plans.
Promotions to the Space Force’s second highest enlisted grade, senior master sergeant, have surged to the highest level in the young service’s history, bolstering the senior NCO corps as officials plan to aggressively expand the force and especially the enlisted corps.