USAF has made several recent changes to its uniform wear regulations, courtesy of the 97th Air Force Uniform Board, and among them is curtailment of the Air Force Good Conduct Medal. Service officials offered no explanation for axing the medal, which the Air Force has awarded since 1963 to enlisted airmen who show “exemplary conduct during a three-year period of active military service (or for a one-year period of service during a time of war).”
The F-35 Joint Program Office has officially announced plans to issue multiple sole-source contracts to Pratt & Whitney to upgrade the fighter’s F135 engine—a widely expected move after Pentagon officials indicated they would do so earlier this year instead of developing an entirely new engine.