All three contributors to US Special Forces command are facing shortages in their ranks, as the Pentagon is pressing to significantly expand all manner of special operations forces over the next few years, reports USA Today. According to Today, the lure of higher paying civilian contractor jobs is taking its toll, not to mention the fact that it is tough to get through the intense training regimen. An earlier report by the Fayetteville (N.C.) Observer noted that one Air Force squadron had half the combat controllers it was authorized. Today, which ran an article in May about Air Force recruiters frequenting thrill-seeking sports venues, now says the Air Force has 504 of the 616 combat controllers it needs.
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.