The annual Harris Poll measuring public perceptions of 23 professions and occupations indicates that 52 percent of Americans think military officers have “very great” prestige. Harris Interactive interviewed a sample of 1,010 adults via telephone in July, and the poll found that firefighters, scientists, teachers, doctors, and nurses are the other five professions at least half of all Americans feel are the most prestigious. Firefighters rank first, with 61 percent of the public saying they have “very great” prestige.
With key members of Congress wavering on the possibility of a $350 billion defense reconciliation bill, defense experts told Air & Space Forces Magazine that the Pentagon is likely drawing up budget backup plans—but such plans would face hard choices between high-end weapons and low-cost drones and other programs in…