Air Force acquisition specialists have handled the COVID-19 crisis well, but will have to get more inventive to keep the system running smoothly, service acquisition chief Will Roper said. He predicted that pushing more authority down to lower levels of decision-making is coming. “Looking ahead, ...
coronavirus pandemic
The Pentagon is preparing to deploy field hospitals in addition to the Navy’s two hospital ships to help alleviate pressure on the medical communities fighting the new coronavirus outbreak, but Defense Secretary Mark Esper maintains that the military’s impact will be limited. Esper said he ...
The U.S. Air Force recently deployed aid to nations in Europe to help counter the spread of the new coronavirus and brought home Americans stranded abroad. “The COVID-19 pandemic requires that we work with our allies and partners to meet the challenges together,” U.S. Air ...
President Donald Trump’s March 22 approval of a Title 32 activation of Guard troops to fight the COVID-19 pandemic in the states of California, New York, and Washington won’t impede the National Guard Bureau’s ability to support theater-based operations, since troops who take part in ...
The Air Force’s depot maintenance activities continue unabated during the COVID-19 crisis, but Air Force Materiel Command is staying alert for supply chain issues that could affect throughput. “To date, no mission requirements have been impacted, and aircraft are still being inducted into the depots,” ...
U.S. European Command has about 2,600 personnel in self-isolation and has curtailed its exercises because of the ongoing new coronavirus outbreak, but the head of the military in Europe says readiness will remain high for the foreseeable future. USAF Gen. Tod Wolters, EUCOM boss and ...
The House and Senate Armed Services Committees are scrambling to learn more about how the coronavirus pandemic could affect the U.S. military, while also trying to keep the major annual defense policy bill on track. “The committee is in constant contact with DOD about its ...
England's Farnborough International Airshow and Royal International Air Tattoo, both originally slated to take place in July, have been canceled due to the new coronavirus pandemic, indicating the outbreak may have a long-term impact on the global defense industry. “After very careful consideration, the unprecedented impact ...
President Donald Trump on March 21 signed a bill into law that will ensure GI Bill benefits aren’t suspended for college programs forced to switch to distance learning because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
National Guard Bureau Chief Gen. Joseph Lengyel said a federal activation of the National Guard to fight the COVID-19 pandemic would be an illogical and inefficient move. “I think you can get everything you need from the National Guard more efficiently and more effectively if ...
Air Force Basic Military Training might not be on hold due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but it’s getting some major, immediate changes to halt the coronavirus’ spread. Starting March 18, incoming recruits will now undergo a two-week-long restriction of movement (or ROM) at the start ...
The Pentagon on March 17 reached into its strategic reserves to help respond to the new coronavirus outbreak, making available 5 million N95 respirator masks and 2,000 deployable ventilators. In addition, laboratories are available for COVID-19 testing as the Defense Department researches what other steps ...
