The Air Force has merged two “overlapping specialties”—aircrew life support and survival equipment—into one new one, the aircrew flight equipment career field, reports TSgt. Parker Gyokeres. Airmen in these fields will undergo two months of cross utilization training before becoming qualified in the different field. Once done, the Air Force would double its deployment-capable pool. Previously, airmen serving in survival equipment did not deploy, while those in life support were considered over-stressed.
The U.S. began extensive air and artillery strikes against Islamic State group targets in Syria on Dec. 19 in retaliation for the killing of three Americans on Dec. 13 by a gunman affiliated with ISIS, U.S. officials said.
