The Air Force indefinitely postponed upgrading its central personnel records data base to allow officials to thoroughly test the changes before implementation, according to the Air Force Personnel Center. “It’s critical we ensure our airmen have the best possible personnel data system, and to do that we need to complete testing on the new system before we upgrade MilPDS,” said Robert Corsi, the Air Force’s assistant deputy personnel chief. Service officials originally planned to take the Military Personnel Data System—which provides information for pay, career progression, and retirement functions—offline for upgrade in December, according to AFPC’s Nov. 2 release. However, “despite the best efforts of many, we must delay the upgrade,” said Corsi. Effects of the delay on airmen will be “minimal” and the Nov. 16 deadline for early retirement and separation applications remains in place despite the postponement, said AFPC officials. (Randolph report by TSgt. Steve Grever)
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.