Reports of an end to the fighter firing range dilemma in South Korea seem to have been premature. According to the Korea Times, Seoul’s plan to expand the US Air Force’s use of the Chikdo shooting range and upgrade it with a new electronic scoring system is far from a done deal, primarily because of local opposition. The situation prompted Lt. Gen. Garry Trexler, commander of 7th Air Force, headquartered at Osan AB, South Korea, to publicly state last week that Seoul had 30 days to rectify the situation or US fighters would have to move off the island. (Trexler is retiring soon.)
Amid a high-profile recruiting crisis, Air Force leaders and experts have increasingly noted the challenging long-term trends the service will face in enticing young Americans to sign up—decreasing eligibility to serve, less propensity to do so, and less familiarity with the military. But while those same leaders say there’s no “silver…