Nominated for Sacrifice:

Supporters of America's Guardsmen don't like what they're hearing about upcoming QDR-induced force cuts, and they aren't pulling any punches. Brig. Gen. Stephen M. Koper (USAF, Ret.), president of the 45,000-member National Guard Association of the United States—wrote in a Dec. 21 letter to Congress that he has "grave concern" that "dramatic" cuts may fall primarily on the Air Guard and Army Guard. "Should the American people calculate the threat to their security is better served by reducing military manpower as a cost-savings measure, then it seems obvious that the most expensive forces (the active component) should be sacrificed first, followed by the least expensive (the Guard and Reserve)." Koper hastened to add that he didn't advocate doing either until there had been a "full, open debate," but the message was clear.

Dept. of Salt in the Wounds:

It hasn’t been very long since the Pentagon and the Guard came to blows over closure of ANG bases and realignment of ANG flying units. Now, say Guard sympathizers, the Pentagon is failing to consult with Guard officials on upcoming...

For Air Force Academy, Some Good News:

Sexual assault, sexual harassment, and sexist behavior declined in the 2004-05 academic year, say Air Force Academy cadets. In fact, according a Defense Department survey, the Colorado Springs institution fared better on those counts than did either the US Military Academy at West Point or US Naval Academy at Annapolis, though all three showed declines in boorish behavior. The survey reported that 76 percent of females and 85 percent of males at Colorado Springs said sexual harassment had become "less of a problem." Authorities began a major crackdown in 2003.

That Doesn’t Mean Things are Great:

According to the DOD report, some form of sexual assault was visited on four percent of female cadets at the Air Force Academy during the 2004-05 academic year. The figures for West Point and Annapolis were (respectively) six and five...

Air Force Chooses Accommodation:

Having lost its battle to get 381 F-22 Raptors, the Air Force simply shrugged and moved on. In a joint press conference, new Air Force Secretary Michael Wynne and the new Chief of Staff, Gen. T. Michael Moseley, said they...

In Search of Seven Squadrons:

Moseley said that, with 183 Raptors, he can “field seven squadrons.” However, it would take changes in the size of squadrons to get seven. At 24 airplanes each (the standard size), seven squadrons would add up to 168 aircraft, leaving...

Not Until the Fat Lady Sings:

In the F-22 matter, Wynne and Moseley feel they won an important concession by getting DOD to stretch out production through 2010. Why? Their answer is that such a plan will put the two “fifth generation” fighters—the F-22 and F-35,...

Verbal Combat in the Far East:

Over 60 postwar years, the world has become accustomed to seeing Japan weasel around in its dealings with great powers, especially China. No more. In the latest case of Tokyo calling a spade a spade, Foreign Minister Taro Aso told...

9/11 Airman Honored:

The name of SSgt. Andrew Brunn, an Air National Guardsman and New York City firefighter who died in the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, was emblazoned with honor on the entryway of the Air Force’s Combined Air Operations Center in Qatar....

Turkey to US—Fix the Iran Problem:

Turkey just raised the tension level over Iran’s nuclear weapons program. Amb. Osman Faruk Logoglu, Ankara’s man in Washington, said Teheran is irrevocably committed to acquiring nukes, and that the problem is now squarely in Washington’s lap. “Iran’s nuclear weapons...

Air Ops Increase—by Factor of Five:

It has been apparent for some weeks now that airpower forces have been getting a vigorous workout in Iraq, more than in years. As if to confirm that, Bradley Graham of the Washington Post reported Dec. 24 that, this fall,...

Are US Fighters in India’s Future?:

The Pentagon is moving fast to cement its newfound friendship with India. USAF has staged two major air combat exercises—”Cope Indias”—in the past 18 months. Now comes word that Washington is weighing a possible sale of F-16 fighters equiped with...

Balad Gets New Aeromedical Site:

The Air Force last week opened a new aeromedical staging facility in Iraq, reports Air Force Print News in Iraq. It will serve as a holding area for injured troops transiting from the field to medical centers outside the theater....

Air Strikes in SWA:

US Central Command Air Forces said that, on Dec. 22, its aircraft flew 22 close air support missions in support of Coalition ground forces in Iraq. USAF F-15s flew CAS missions near Samarra, attacking an enemy bunker with a PGM....

Air Sorties in the Global War on Terrorism

December 22-25, 2005 Sortie Type OIF OEF OIF/OEF Total ISR 37 18 – 55 CAS/Armed Recon 144 83 – 227 Airlift – – 720 720 Air refueling – – 110 110 Total 181 101 830 1,112 OIF=Operation Iraqi Freedom OEF=Operation...