USAF Presses for Greater Legislative Relief: The Air Force plan to further meld its active and reserve components is driving a new effort to change legal barriers to the enterprise. USAF did get some legislative relief a couple of years ago to the prohibitions against putting Title 10 (federal-controlled) and Title 32 (state-controlled) personnel in the same unit. (Read about USAF’s blended wing here.) In the words of officials at the time, the law is “becoming less and less ambiguous.” Now, according to Maj. Gen. Frank Faykes, USAF budget director, the service is seeking additional changes via the 2007 defense budget request. Faykes said the ultimate goal of the proposed changes to legal statutes is to enable an Air National Guard or Air Force Reserve officer to command and train active duty personnel.
The Air Force displayed all the firepower it has amassed on Okinawa in an unusually diverse show of force this week. IIn a May 6 “Elephant Walk,” Kadena Air Base showcased 24 F-35A Lightning II stealth fighters, eight F-15E Strike Eagles; two U.S. Army Patriot anti-missile batteries near the runway; and…