Some Air Reserve Technicians are balking at the recent rule change that means they would have to don Air Force uniforms—and embrace all that goes with that—to go to work every day. The Delaware State News reports that ARTs at Dover AFB, Del., where they are employed in full-time civilian jobs, believe the Air Force has gone to far. The recent rule change means they would have to wear their uniforms while working in their civilian status instead of just during their actual Reserve duty. The Air Force sees the move as extending its effort to make the active and reserve components more “seamless.” However, the Delaware newspaper indicates there could be union concerns and that the change has sparked Congressional interest.
A provision in the fiscal 2025 defense policy bill will require the Defense Department to include the military occupational specialty of service members who die by suicide in its annual report on suicide deaths, though it remains to be seen how much data the department will actually disclose.