The Lexington Institute’s Loren Thompson believes the Air Force simply “has become so politically correct that nobody can figure out what it’s saying.” Thompson complains about the C-17 snafu, among other things, writing that although USAF only cited a need for two additional airlifters, it was, in fact, “formulating plans to seek dozens more” but left “outsiders” to “read its mind.” Although Thompson maintains that Chief of Staff Gen. Michael Moseley is actually “more articulate than any of his recent predecessors,” he says the Air Force culture is more committed to “secrecy” than it is to gaining support for its mission.
While the Space Force is still making long-term plans to establish high-fidelity live and virtual test and training ranges in the coming years, officials say they're also working with operators to identify near-term gaps and quickly field capabilities to address them.
