Those dire words came from Air Force Secretary Michael Wynne in remarks at a Washington think tank gathering this week. He said the Air Force was “going out of business” in industrialist terms because its plan to sacrifice 40,000 bodies to fund modernization of its aged aircraft fleet has failed. He said the inventory age is still rising, from 23.9 years today to 26.5 years by 2012. Simply put, the service’s fourth-generation fighters can not compete against fighters or air defense systems over Tehran [Iran] or Caracas [Venezuela], once they buy what the Russians are selling them,” declared Wynne. He acknowledged that it was his idea to attempt to fund modernization with personnel cuts, as any industrialist would do, but he said, “It isn’t working.” (Read more in Warning: USAF Is “Going Out of Business.”)
Airmen can apply to become warrant officers in cybersecurity or information technology from April 25, through May 31, the Air Force announced. From June 24-28, a selection board will pick up to 60 candidates for the eight-week Warrant Officer Training School (WOTS) at Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala. Selectees will…