The A
ir Force earlier this week revised its mission statement, adding one key word but otherwise trimming the verbiage. The new statement reads: “The mission of the United States Air Force is to fly, fight, and win … in air, space, and cyberspace.” Gone is the part about delivering “sovereign options for the defense of the United States of America and its global interests.” But no longer is the mission only to fly and fight, but rather to fly, fight, and win. The new statement is “simple and easy to understand,” said Gen. Norton Schwartz, Chief of Staff. He added: “This is who we are. It’s what motivates us and drives us to serve.” The revamped language emerged from the strategic summit held Wednesday at Bolling AFB, D.C., that brought together senior service leaders including Schwartz and Acting Secretary Michael Donley to plot the path ahead for the service and to reach decisions on selected issues. For example, plans to realign maintenance units for fighter and combat search and rescue aircraft with their flying units have been scrubbed as have plans to field new service dress uniforms. In the latter case, efforts will be placed instead on correcting issues with the present airman battle uniform, all purpose environmental clothing system jacket, and physical training gear.
The Chinese air force is accelerating some of its fighter pilot training but likely won't fully modernize until 2030. Tradition and the tempo of graduating aviation academy classes constrains pilot production.