A senator from Georgia has proposed an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act that would require the Air Force to speed up the JSTARS recapitalization program. The amendment, filed by Sen. David Perdue (R-Ga.), requires Secretary of Defense Ash Carter to fund JSTARS recapitalization as a rapid acquisition program “in order to achieve initial operating capability by not later than 2023 and full operating capability by not later than 2027,” according to a copy of the amendment obtained by Politico. In April, Perdue said in a speech on the Senate floor that the JSTARS fleet must be replaced, “and the sooner we get started, the better.” The House Armed Services Committee also wants to speed up JSTARS recapitalization, and included a provision in its version of the NDAA that would require Secretary of the Air Force Deborah Lee James to brief HASC on options for moving initial operational capability to Fiscal 2022 or 2023. Though senators were expected to begin debate on the NDAA on Wednesday, Democrats blocked a motion by Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman John McCain (R-Ariz) to consider the bill, Politico reported.
How Miss America 2024 Took the Air Force Somewhere New
Dec. 20, 2024
When 2nd Lt. Madison Marsh became the first ever active service member crowned Miss America on Jan. 14, top Air Force officials recognized a rare opportunity to reach women and girls who otherwise might not consider military service as an option.