Air Mobility Command wants to make a “homogenous” fleet of C-17 aircraft across its total force to have consistent block capabilities by coordinating upgrades, AMC Commander Gen. Carlton Everhart said Sept. 16 at ASC15. The command has made “great progress” in upgrading its C-17 fleet so far, and it expects to push the C-17 fleet beyond its original lifespan of 30,000 flight hours to a new goal of 42,000 hours. At the same time, Everhart said he is worried about pushing the C-17s too far. He said he plans to mitigate that by moving more cargo into civilian fleets. The Air Force does not currently plan to have a service life extension program for the C-17 fleet, but that could change depending on future operational needs, he said.
Amid a high-profile recruiting crisis, Air Force leaders and experts have increasingly noted the challenging long-term trends the service will face in enticing young Americans to sign up—decreasing eligibility to serve, less propensity to do so, and less familiarity with the military. But while those same leaders say there’s no “silver…