A new report commissioned by DOD states that the US military will find handling crises around the world “unsustainable in the long term” because of rising fuel costs, reports Bryan Bender of the Boston Globe. According to Bender, who obtained a copy of “Transforming the Way DOD Looks at Energy” prepared by LMI Government Consulting, the report serves as a “potential blueprint for a new military energy strategy.” The Air Force, as DOD’s largest energy consumer—predominantly for aviation fuel—already has embarked on alternative fuel strategies, including synthetic fuel to propel aircraft and solar energy to run bases.
Airmen and Guardians in the Active and Reserve component, as well as civilian employees, in “mission critical and high-risk populations” are now required to receive influenza vaccinations annually to “preserve force readiness,” according to a recent Department of the Air Force memo.