Rep. Ike Skelton (D-Mo.), the ranking member of the House Armed Services Committee, told the Commission on National Guard and Reserves committee that there is a serious shortfall in the professional military education arena when it comes to the reserve components. His prepared statement did not address the issue, but Skelton felt compelled to talk briefly about PME, which he said needs “serious consideration.” Skelton noted that only a handful of Guardsmen and Reservists are picked to go to intermediate or senior war colleges. And that, he claims, will not do because Guardsmen and Reservists increasingly are being put in decision-making positions that would benefit from a war college education. Without that, said Skelton, “you might get an erroneous recommendation.”
Airmen and Guardians in the Active and Reserve component, as well as civilian employees, in “mission critical and high-risk populations” are now required to receive influenza vaccinations annually to “preserve force readiness,” according to a recent Department of the Air Force memo.