Air-Land Pow-wow: Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz met with his Army counterpart, Gen. George Casey Jr., Feb. 10 in the Pentagon for a day of meetings to discuss areas of mutual interest regarding interdependency and interoperability. The Army-hosted event was one of the senior-level “warfighter talks” first held in 1965. Issues on the agenda for the USAF and Army delegations included command and control of unmanned aerial vehicles, improving liaison personnel exchanges, providing better intelligence to the joint force, and integrating and deconflicting air and ground munitions and platforms. Schwartz said he was “particularly pleased” with the outcomes of the discussion on how the Air Force can better provide liaison personnel to work with Army brigade combat teams and other formations. He added that the Air Force will continue to adapt to build trust and interoperability with the land service. Casey reiterated the successes of the two services working together today and said efforts will continue to make them “an even more effective team across the spectrum of conflict.” The Air Force will host a round of similar talks with Navy leaders next month and Marine Corps leaders in April. (AFNS report by Air Force Maj. Ryan Suttlemyre)
Lt. Gen. Dan Caine, nominee to be chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told the Senate Armed Services Committee that the Defense Department needs to upgrade its electronic warfare capability and its EW training ranges; just as his predecessor said at his own confirmation hearing.