The Air Force wants to increase the flow of trained battlefield airmen like joint terminal attack controllers to the fight, since they are so vital to the success of operations. However, says Gen. Stephen Lorenz, head of Air Education and Training Command, the current training regiment is washing out a high percentage of these students, perhaps too many. “Our attrition rate in those courses is like 86 percent,” Lorenz told attendees Feb. 19 at AFA’s Air Warfare Symposium in Orlando. Accordingly, AETC officials are looking at what can be done to increase the number of students who make it through successfully. “Is the course set up to graduate people or is it set up to eliminate people?” Lorenz asked. That’s what’s being pondered, he said.
About a month away from its arrival, the Air Force named an upcoming light attack and observation aircraft after an iconic Cold War-era close air support platform.