The Air Force has cut back on “non-mission critical” temporary duty assignments as part of its sequestration mitigation efforts. That could mean delays to professional military education courses, such as the NCO Academy and mission-readiness training, said Air Force Secretary Michael Donley during AFA’s Air Warfare Symposium in Orlando, Fla., on Feb. 22. “The TDY that supports all that work could delay the promotions of airmen that rely on that training and it could lead to loss of certifications for airmen in technical specialties such as firefighting and [explosive ordnance disposal] specialists,” said Donley during his symposium address.
The Pentagon needs a Digital Command and a Digital Warfare Corps, along with other changes, to take advantage of critical new technologies, according to a think tank founded by former Google CEO and Chairman Eric Schmidt.