The Air Force’s developmental special duties initiative is a significant change for the enlisted corps, said CMSgt. Richard Parsons, Air Combat Command’s command chief, on Monday. “Developmental special duties is about who we select to develop our future leaders,” said Parsons during the command chiefs forum at AFA’s 2013 Air and Space Conference in National Harbor, Md. “We’re saying that we are banking our future leaders on you, and we picked you to build our future,” he said. CMSgt. Richard Kaiser, Air Mobility Command’s command chief, emphasized that enlisted personnel are airmen first, their specialty next. “It’ll be an honor for the airmen, at least that should be their reaction,” when nominated to serve in a developmental special duty, he said.
More than two dozen F-35 Lightning II fighters are heading to Kingsley Field, Ore., after Air Force Secretary Troy Meink signed the official record of decision to base the jets there on Oct. 5, clearing the last bureaucratic hurdle for the Air National Guard base to host the service’s third…