The Air Force is emphasizing post-deployment support to help airmen as they reunite with their families and return to their communities, CMSAF Rodney McKinley, the service’s top enlisted man, told a House Appropriations subcommittee last week. “We strongly advocate education and employment initiatives specifically targeted to mitigate some of the economic disadvantages our military families currently face,” said McKinley. He expressed concern about problems such as the transfer of school credits and eligibility for in-state tuition that can affect military families, noting that such issues could easily factor into an airman’s decision to stay in or leave the military. “Our airmen and fellow service members should never have to choose between caring for their family and serving their country,” asserted McKinley.
A legislative standoff has led to a lapse in a $4.26 billion small business innovation contracting program widely used by the Air Force and could spell the end of it entirely, industry sources warned Air & Space Forces Magazine.
