Almanac: Structure

The Air Force is once again tightening its standards for dress and appearance, banning eyelash extensions for female Airmen and setting a minimum height for combat boots. 

Airmen basic rarely go on to become four-star generals, but one who did retired last week after a 42 year career that saw him rise from a lowly slick-sleeve to the head of one of the Air Force’s most important major commands.

The Air Force is requesting about $141 million for initial enlistment bonuses in its fiscal 2026 budget, while Space Force wants $13 million.

The Air Force is requesting a $71.2 million increase in hazardous duty incentive pay for commissioned Airmen, as the service expects more officer aviators to take the bonus in fiscal year 2026.

Trainees in Basic Military Training and technical school no longer have the option to try alternate PT drills if they fail an initial assessment, according to a policy change the Air Force made in April. The move is part of a larger shift out of the classroom and into hands-on,…

The Senate confirmed new leaders of U.S. forces in Europe and the Middle East over the weekend. Lawmakers on June 29 also approved a reshuffling of Air Force officials that will put new faces in the service’s Pentagon headquarters as well as at its largest command.

The Space Force and Air Force have both hit their fiscal 2025 recruiting goals with months to spare, extending a promising trend that has boosted the services’ ranks, officials announced June 30.

A new survey found that military and veteran spouses experience depression and anxiety at two to three times the rate of the general population, with many also reporting difficulty finding community, peer support, and suitable employment.

Changes are coming to the Air Force physical fitness assessment, but the service is not yet revealing what those are or when Airmen might expect to see them. A message from Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force David A. Flosi to other enlisted leaders hinted that the new test…