The Air Force is on track to complete by June 30 the initial training program that is part of the process of repealing the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy, Lt. Gen. Darrell Jones, Air Staff lead for personnel issues, told the Daily Report Thursday. Officials began training the first two tiers of airmen—leadership and the experts who will deal directly with repeal implementation—on Feb. 14. Training for everyone else began March 1, he said. “We haven’t had a lot of significant issues so far,” said Jones. “I think [Chief of Staff] Gen. [Norton] Schwartz said it best when he said he was a lot more comfortable with repeal now than he was at the start of the roll out based on comments we are getting back from the field.” Pentagon officials have said they are aiming to get 100 percent of units of trained before Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Joint Chiefs Chairman Adm. Mike Mullen certify the changes to Pentagon policies and regulations—one of the final steps before the Clinton-era DADT law is overturned and homosexuals are allowed to serve openly.
The People’s Republic of China emphasized operational and near-operational fifth-generation aircraft in its massive Sept. 2 military parade marking the 80th anniversary of victory over Japan in World War II. Also trucked through Tiananmen Square were a number of uncrewed aircraft, many of which bear a striking resemblance to U.S.…
