The Pentagon’s broad-based defense strategy review to shape its force of 2020 has been an “unprecedented collaborative effort” between the services, combatant commanders, and the Office of the Secretary of Defense, said Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz. Without previewing the strategy prior to its rollout early next year, Schwartz offered these insights during an appearance on This Week in Defense News that aired on Dec. 11: USAF in the coming years—the active duty ranks and reserve components—will get smaller and will do less tasks simultaneously, he said. What remains will still be a “superb” Air Force, said Schwartz, noting that fielding multi-role assets and placing emphasis on readiness will be critical factors in crafting the future force. Operations tempo and force management will be key to achieving balance, but the force will still be “compelling,” said Schwartz.
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.