The Air Force plans in January to begin reviewing line of the Air Force lieutenants four times each year for promotion to captain instead of only once a year as has been the process, according to an Air Force release. This way lieutenants identified for force shaping cuts will have a chance to be selected for promotion, which they can carry over to reserve components or sister services after separating from the active Air Force.
The U.S. military is maintaining a beefed-up presence in the Middle East, including fighters and air defense assets, following the U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities June 22 and subsequent retaliation by the Iranians against Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar.