The new Secretary maintains that the Air Force has always been a joint service, but he wants it to seek out new missions instead of “waiting to be asked.” He calls this approach: “aggressively pursuing joint.” The Air Force already provides close air support, aerial mobility and refueling, indirect fire, intelligence, aeromedical evacuation, security, training, tactical communications, contracting, and convoy operations. Now, says Wynne, the question is “should we encroach a little bit more on unfamiliar territory.”
F-35As from the Vermont Air National Guard have deployed to Puerto Rico in recent days, continuing a major buildup of U.S. Air Force assets in Latin America aimed at combating drug trafficking and pressuring the regime of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro.
