The Air Force has now made it official policy that a senior NCO must complete Senior NCO Academy coursework and must have a Community College of the Air Force degree before they can endorsed for promotion to senior or chief master sergeant. Officials say that the new, unequivocal, rule goes into effect for the 2007 chief and 2008 senior master sergeant promotion cycles. They also note that having filled these squares is not a guarantee of promotion.
The Air Force is spending heavily on F-22 improvements through the end of the decade, suggesting it may not retire the jet in 2030 as it previously planned. New sensors, fuel tanks, communications, and electronic warfare systems are among the upgrades that comprise the package.