The Air Force Personnel Center plans to refine the way in which the Air Force fills 365-day deployments. The net result, according to a Sept. 19 AFPC release, will be to give airmen destined to serve those year-long deployments more advance notice than they currently get. The service has nearly 2,000 airmen in 365-day deployments, and about one-third of those received less that 60 days notice. Among changes set to take effect Oct. 1, airmen tapped for these assignments will have only three days to accept or decline, streamlines the verification process, and requires a medical pre-assessment to ensure the airmen are able to complete combat skills training. “These changes are designed to streamline the process and provide airmen adequate time to prepare themselves and their families before departing,” said Maj. Gen. K.C. McClain, AFPC commander. (AFPC report by MSgt. Kat Bailey)
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.