In his first official missive to the field, the Air Force’s new top enlisted man, CMSAF Rodney McKinley, explains some recent changes the service has made to the senior NCO performance and rating process. He tells airmen that “stratification comments”—those that would rank an NCO against others at his or her base—have become “overused, vague, and subjective.” Consequently, the service has implemented some stringent rules. And, as McKinley writes, “The bottom line is less stratification is better.”
Some Guard Troops Won’t Get Paid Until Shutdown Ends
Oct. 29, 2025
The National Guard Bureau says most units are postponing drills during the shutdown, but some states are sticking to their training schedule, resulting in a patchwork of different policies and some confusion in the ranks.

