A branch of the American Federation of Government Employees union at Davis-Monthan AFB, Mont., has challenged bans the base has placed on the use of handheld cell phones. In addition to imposing a DOD-wide ban on the use of cell phone while driving on military facilities, the Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Center at Davis-Monthan extended the ban to cover: while conducting aircraft maintenance and while in a production area where maintenance is in progress or where flammables are present. The AMARC rule also says cell phones must be stored in lockers when not in use. The union wants bargaining rights.
The Air Force kicked off one of its biggest exercises this week with the latest edition of Bamboo Eagle, featuring combined virtual and live training scenarios focused on test the command-and-control “nervous system” leaders need to operate on a complex joint battlefield spread over vast distances.
