USAF has promoted 417 enlisted members to chief master sergeant, following evaluation of 2,475 senior master sergeants. The selection rate was 16.85 percent, compared to 22.83 percent last year.
The rate of building B-21 bombers would speed up if the fiscal 2026 defense budget passes. But it remains unclear how much capacity would be added, and whether the Air Force would simply build the bombers faster, or buy more.