Daily Report

July 19, 2011

Mission Impossible?

The Air Force’s aircraft procurement plan may not be realistic, as the service contends with a new age of flat-lining, and possibly even declining, defense budgets, said Todd Harrison, a senior fellow for defense budget studies at the Center for...

Allen New ISAF Commander

Marine Corps Gen. John Allen on Monday relieved Army Gen. David Petraeus as commander of NATO’s International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan. “We will keep our eyes on the horizon—the future of Afghanistan—a nation of free people at peace, governed...

Updated Dress and Personal Appearance Instruction Released

Air Force officials on Monday issued an updated version of the service's instruction on dress and personal appearance. The new version of Air Force Instruction 36-2903 supersedes the previous iteration from Aug. 2, 2006—before the release of the Airman Battle Uniform that will replace the Battle Dress Uniform and Desert Camouflage Uniform come November. "The changes are a result of airmen in the field requesting clarification, leadership approving more specific policy, and the need to integrate information from the 98th virtual uniform board and other wear policy approved since 2006," said Ruth Ewalt, uniform programs and policies chief for the Air Staff. "We added the ABU, green fleece, and physical fitness uniform information not in the previous AFI and corrected instances of conflicting information." (Randolph report by Eric M. Grill) (AFI 36-2903 full document; caution, large-sized file.)

Changing Appetites

The Air Force and Navy may be able to avoid the budgetary chopping block as the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan come to a close, said Todd Harrison of the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments in Washington, D.C., Monday....

Changing Assumptions

The Pentagon’s Fiscal 2012 budget request for military operations in Afghanistan may turn out to be $17 billion higher than what is actually needed, said Todd Harrison, a senior fellow with the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments in Washington,...

Rescuers Awarded French Medal

Three airmen with the 83rd Expeditionary Rescue Squadron at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, received the French National Defense Gold Medal with Bronze Star for their heroism during the rescue of a French helicopter crew last month. They are: HH-60 pilot Capt....

Past the Halfway Point

The Afghan air force welcomed the addition of its 11th newly refurbished C-27A transport aircraft. Its arrival last week at Kabul International Airport brought the nascent air arm more than halfway to its goal of building a fleet of 20...

Lauding Aviators and Innovators

The National Aviation Hall of Fame in Dayton Ohio, formally inducted its 2011 class of enshrinees, honoring the outstanding aeronautical achievements of four pioneers during a ceremony at Dayton’s convention center. Joining the 207 members inducted over the past 50...