The Air Force has found itself short of new dentists for nearly 10 years, bringing in about 120 a year instead of the 150 it needs. The service also finds it difficult to retain dentists once they’ve completed their basic commitment. The director of the Air Force Dental Corps, Col. Grant Hartup, says that the service plans to expand special pays and incentives, however, he thinks it must sell potential dental officers on the broader aspects of an Air Force career. He says the professional development opportunities outstrip those in the civilian world—that’s why he is still serving.
B-52 Stratofortress bombers marked a new first in Operation Epic Fury when some of the BUFFs flew over Iran carrying JDAM-guided gravity bombs, according to people familiar with the matter. The development signals a weakening of Iranian air defenses and a new use for the venerable bomber in the nearly…