Gen. 
Mark Welsh introduced himself to airmen in his first official letter to them since becoming the Air Force’s 20th Chief of Staff. “My story starts with my family. My dad, who was the greatest patriot, officer, and leader I’ve ever known, taught me no rank or title would ever be as important as the unit patch I wore,” said Welsh, whom Air Force Secretary Michael Donley swore in as Chief of Staff on Aug. 10. He added, “Today, I wear the Air Force patch, and my family has grown to 690,000 Active, [Air National] Guard, [Air Force] Reserve, and civilian airmen, all serving as part of an unbeatable joint team.” Welsh went on to thank airmen for their dedicated service and promised to outline his priorities shortly. “In the meantime, you take care of the ‘Fly, Fight, and Win’ part . . . and I’ll ensure that ‘Integrity, Service, and Excellence’ aren’t just buzz words I use in speeches,” he wrote in the missive, dated Aug. 10.
Top Lawmakers Want 15 Percent Pay Raise for Enlisted Troops
April 19, 2024
A new law introduced by Congress would raise the pay rate 15 percent for junior enlisted troops and seek improvements on a range of quality of life issues, such as pay and compensation, child care, housing, health care access, and military spouse employment.