Space Force

WASHINGTON (AFNS) --  Department of the Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall and the department’s two highest-ranking military leaders told a Senate subcommittee April 9 that the United States cannot withstand further budget delays if it expects to modernize and compete successfully against China. “Continued failure to provide on-time authorities and appropriations will leave the Air Force and Space Force inadequately prepared,” Kendall told the Senate Defense Appropriations Subcommittee. “Time matters, but so do resources. The United States is also now facing a competitor with national purchasing power that exceeds our own...

ARLINGTON, Va. (AFNS) --   Effective April 1, the Department of the Air Force approved a new incentive pay for Airmen and Guardians assigned to qualifying bases in the U.S. where the temperature is expected to drop below minus 20 degrees Fahrenheit.  Cold Weather Assignment Incentive Pay is a single lump sum payment given to Airmen and Guardians after signing an agreement to serve a prescribed tour length of at least 12 months, depending on qualifying location.   “Airmen and Guardians living in extremely cold conditions faced unique out-of-pocket costs,” said Alex Wagner, Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Manpower and Reserve Affairs. “In addition to the assignment and retention benefits of the pay, it also ...

KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. (AFNS) --  The Air Force Safety Center released a new strategic plan outlining new goals and focus areas to align with Department of the Air Force priorities. The DAF Safety Strategic Plan establishes the requirements for the enterprise to achieve its vision in support of national and department-level guidance. The plan will be used to identify resource requirements, prioritize activities, align manpower, and provide the insights necessary for safety professionals to make decisions at their level as appropriate.The new mission statement, “Increase combat power through Risk Man...

FORT JACKSON, S.C, (AFNS) --  Two Guardians boldly went where no Guardian had gone before and came out as drill sergeants.They received their distinctive drill sergeant hats and walked across the stage at Fort Jackson’s post theater and into the record books during a ceremony held April 3.Tech Sgt. David Gudgeon and Sgt. Yuji R. Moore became the first graduates from the U.S. Army Drill Sergeant Academy from the sister services.“This is historic, and I don’t think it’s lost on anybody how we bring the joint force together in order to get after it,” said Army Command Sgt. Maj. Raymond Harris, Army Training and Doctrine Command senior enlisted leader. “The Army will never fight by itself; the Space Force will never fight by itself. In the entire Departmen...