Sixty-eight percent of all airmen entered service after 9/11, so they have never known an Air Force that was not involved in wars. The high operational tempo of the last decade is the new normal for today’s force, said CMSAF James Roy on Friday during AFA’s Air Warfare Symposium in Orlando, Fla. Airmen want to know how they are going to keep their edge, said Roy. “That’s a good question, because I think that’s the question of the future,” he said. Senior leaders have to make sure they are up to the task and figure out how to ensure airmen remain motivated, said Roy. “I know we can do it. We made the transition after 9/11 very, very quickly, and airmen have shown us they are willing to produce every single day,” he said.
The Space Development Agency says it’s on track to issue its next batch of missile warning and tracking satellite contracts this month after those awards were delayed by the Pentagon’s decision to divert funds from the agency to pay troops during this fall’s prolonged government shutdown.

