The Air Force’s developmental special duties initiative is a significant change for the enlisted corps, said CMSgt. Richard Parsons, Air Combat Command’s command chief, on Monday. “Developmental special duties is about who we select to develop our future leaders,” said Parsons during the command chiefs forum at AFA’s 2013 Air and Space Conference in National Harbor, Md. “We’re saying that we are banking our future leaders on you, and we picked you to build our future,” he said. CMSgt. Richard Kaiser, Air Mobility Command’s command chief, emphasized that enlisted personnel are airmen first, their specialty next. “It’ll be an honor for the airmen, at least that should be their reaction,” when nominated to serve in a developmental special duty, he said.
The rate of building B-21 bombers would speed up if the fiscal 2026 defense budget passes. But it remains unclear how much capacity would be added, and whether the Air Force would simply build the bombers faster, or buy more.