Air Force leaders have instructed public affairs personnel to use the phrase “force shaping,” rather than terms such as “downsizing” or “layoffs” whey they are discussing the upcoming personnel cuts. And, leaders have deemed as strictly taboo the obvious, logical, and traditional term “reduction in force.” Why? Senior leadership wants to emphasize that the service is deliberately moving toward a new and smaller organization, rather than having folks construe the cuts as a money-saving effort.
Unit commanders are being told to separate service members who can’t shave their cheeks and chin for medical reasons for more than a year, according to new guidance from Secretary of War Pete Hegseth.
