When searching for new recruits, the Air Force uses a “whole person concept” and may administer waivers on a case by case basis, Brig. Gen. Suzanne Vautrinot, commander of Air Force Recruiting Service at Randolph AFB, Tex., told reporters Tuesday during a Pentagon press briefing. There has been some concern as the Army has lowered its entrance test score criteria and other services have been seen issuing waivers to cover disqualifying conditions ranging from health issues to misdemeanor charges. Vautrinot said that the Air Force gives waivers as “recognition that you might have a person that may be a 4.0 student and an eagle scout but may have a traffic ticket or a curfew violation.”
Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Kenneth S. Wilsbach told lawmakers Apr. 30 that the service’s biggest airlifter, the C-5 Galaxy, has a 37 percent mission capable rate—one of several challenges facing the mobility fleet.