Lt. Gen. Charles Green, Air Force surgeon general, said the service has been successful at treating airmen with post-traumatic-stress disorder such that the vast majority of them are able to resume their duties. “The reality is, of those diagnosed with PTSD, 75 percent are returned to duty,” he told the House Armed Services Committee’s military personnel panel last week. Rep. Mike Coffman (R-Colo.) asked Green and the Army and Navy surgeon generals if the Pentagon’s approach for dealing with PTSD was “disability-centric” or “treatment-centric.” Coffman championed treatment. In response, Green said, despite the perception that the Air Force is pulling “a lot of people out” of service because they have PTSD, the service’s “focus is on treatment.” He added, “I do think that it’s a bit of a misperception to think that we’re not focused on treatment when we’re bringing 75 percent back to duty.” (Green’s written testimony)
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.