Chief of Staff Gen. Mark Welsh told more than 140 wing commanders from across the Air Force at JB Andrews, Md., that leaders who are not directly and aggressively involved in ridding the service of sexual assault and sexual harassment are not part of the solution, but rather part of the problem. “The environment inside our Air Force is changing,” Welsh told these airmen during the Nov. 28 meeting, according to a Dec. 3 release. He continued, “But it hasn’t changed enough and it hasn’t changed in all the right ways to ensure integration of all airmen.” He emphasized that commanders “must ensure that every member of our Air Force is treated with respect and feels like a critically important part of the team.” Welsh said operationally, the Air Force is “doing great.” He noted that “mission-wise, we’re doing everything we’re supposed to be doing, and we’re doing it in outstanding fashion.” However, “the bottom line is performance,” and that performance comes from taking great care of airmen and their families and making sure they are proud of what they do, he said. (Washington, D.C., report by SMSgt. David Byron)
The Air Force and Boeing agreed to a nearly $2.4 billion contract for a new lot of KC-46 aerial tankers on Nov. 21. The deal, announced by the Pentagon, is for 15 new aircraft in Lot 11 at a cost of $2.389 billion—some $159 million per tail.