Suicide rates of airmen dropped by 49 percent from Fiscal 2004 to 2005, according to Air Force statistics. There were 29 active duty suicides in 2005, a rate of 7.8 per 100,000 airmen. USAF officials credit the lower rates to a “state-of-the-art integrated system of policy and programs” called the Air Force Suicide Prevention Program, which the service created nine years ago.
Lt. Gen. Dan Caine, nominee to be chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told the Senate Armed Services Committee that the Defense Department needs to upgrade its electronic warfare capability and its EW training ranges; just as his predecessor said at his own confirmation hearing.