“The weapons system that we have that has drawn the highest utilization in terms of crews is the MC-130P, the tankers,” said Lt. Gen. Donald Wurster, head of Air Force Special Operations, highlighting the AFSOC airmen most affected by frequent overseas deployments. Wing-box repairs on the MC-130E/H Combat Talon fleet have meant that the remaining MC-130P Combat Shadow and MC-130W Combat Spear aircraft have been shifted to meet operational workloads. MC-130Ws normally tasked with airlift have been shifted to battlefield over-watch and strike roles, leaving the tanker fleet to supply airlift. Speaking Wednesday afternoon during the Four-Star Forum at AFA’s Air & Space Conference, Wurster said: “Our tanker force has really done a remarkable job. They’ve surged several times for activities that are going on in Africa.” He added, “People in our line of work are used to being gone a fair amount, but we do have some that I watch.”
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.