Air Combat Command boss Gen. Hawk Carlisle was inducted into the Order of the Sword—the highest honor the enlisted force can bestow on an officer—during an Oct. 27 ceremony in Hampton, Va. “I would describe Gen. Carlisle as a selfless leader and servant leader,” said ACC Command Chief CMSgt. Steve McDonald in a release. “I have seen his schedule and how much of his life is devoted to the Air Force. Whether he is testifying before Congress on behalf of airmen, meeting with leaders of partner nations, serving Thanksgiving dinner at a deployed location, or pushing an MQ-9 into a hangar, his thoughts are always on our enlisted airmen.”
The Air Force is requesting about $141 million for initial enlistment bonuses in its fiscal 2026 budget, while Space Force wants $13 million.
