Engaging the Enlisted Force: 
In one of his first major addresses as the service’s new top enlisted airman, CMSAF James Roy tackled subjects ranging from the need to remain focused in combat operations to improving childcare in the Air Force. Perhaps most importantly, the new Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force, speaking Wednesday at AFA’s Air & Space Conference, exhorted airmen to “think and act like we’re at war” and, particularly urged them: “Don’t take shortcuts.” Roy emphasized, “What we cannot afford is to lose an individual because of a shortcut.” He recalled that it had already happened in the case of a civil engineer specialist who attempted to shortcut work in defusing an improvised explosive device. Roy also talked about career building and improving joint operations, as well as the service’s efforts to improve support to families and airmen. Continue
A provision in the fiscal 2025 defense policy bill will require the Defense Department to include the military occupational specialty of service members who die by suicide in its annual report on suicide deaths, though it remains to be seen how much data the department will actually disclose.