Third Air Force Commander Lt. Gen. Craig Franklin will retire as a two-star, confirmed a US Air Forces in Europe-Air Forces Africa spokeswoman. Franklin’s decision to overturn a military sexual assault conviction in February 2013 sparked a contentious debate on Capitol Hill that eventually led to a series of changes to the Uniform Code of Military Justice. He once again came under fire in December when he declined to pursue a court-martial in an alleged sexual assault case at Aviano AB, Italy. In a statement released last week, Franklin said he feared the public scrutiny of his future decisions could infringe on the privacy of future victims and the accused. “The last thing I want in this command is for the people to feel they cannot bring a sexual assault case forward or feel it won’t be dealt with fairly,” said Franklin in a statement. USAFE-AFA spokeswoman Capt. Reba Good told the Daily Report Franklin will retire as a major general “because he does not have the time-in-grade” to retire at his current rank. She added, “It is Defense Department policy that general officers have three years time-in-grade to voluntarily retire at their current rank.” Good said Franklin “will not pursue a waiver.”
U.S. Air Force B-1 Lancer bombers fired advanced munitions in a live-fire exercise in the Middle East, the latest display of American muscle in the region. Two B-1s took off from RAF Fairford in the United Kingdom on June 7 and released precision munitions—JDAM guided bombs and an AGM-158 JASSM…