The Air 
Force is “hoping” to make a presentation to Defense Secretary Robert Gates on the new long-range strike aircraft before Gates decides what the platform’s requirements will be, Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz said Tuesday. Schwartz told the Daily Report before and after his remarks at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., that the aircraft’s attributes are up to Gates to decide. Gates is being informed by prep work provided by Ash Carter, Pentagon acquisition executive, and Christine Fox, who heads the Pentagon’s Cost Assessment and Program Evaluation shop. Last month, Schwartz said the debate about LRS was “still raging.” But on Tuesday, he said he hoped that decisions would be made “within the next three weeks or so,” and definitely before the Fiscal 2012 budget has firmed up. The Air Force has asked to make a presentation on its LRS ideas, but “we’re not on [Gates’] calendar yet,” said Schwartz.
When acting Air Force Secretary Gary A. Ashworth rescinded service-wide “Family Days” last week citing the need to build readiness, he left it up to commanders, directors, and supervisors to decide if they would still permit extra days off. Here’s how Air Force major commands are taking that guidance.