The Defense Department plans to induct some 60,000 civilian personnel in the next round of switchovers to the new National Security Personnel System, starting in October. The latest effort, called Spiral 1.2, follows Spiral 1.1, comprising 11,000 employees, which, officials say, achieved a 99.9 percent technical accuracy rate—that is all personnel and pay actions went smoothly. DOD expects all 60,000 personnel—all non-union employees—to be shifted to NSPS by the end of January 2007. The Pentagon still is embroiled in a legal dispute with union officials.
The U.S. military conducted a punishing series of airstrikes against Islamic State militants on Dec. 8 following the sudden demise of the ruling Assad regime. U.S. Air Force B-52 Stratofortress bombers, F-15E Strike Eagles, and A-10 Thunderbolt II attack aircraft conducted dozens of airstrikes against Islamic State leaders, fighters, and…