Three USAF Vets in Unsettled Races as Total Number of Vets in Congress Falls Again
Of the 33 Air Force veterans running in the election on Tuesday, 15 won their seats and three races are still too close to call. Overall, 77 veterans won elections, including 17 challengers. They’ll join 15 incumbent veterans in the Senate, meaning as few as 92 veterans may serve in the 116th Congress starting in January. Read the full story by Amy McCullough.
Here Are Gen. Miller’s 6 Priorities for Air Mobility Command
USAF Successfully Launches Unarmed ICBM
The Air Force on Tuesday successfully launched an unarmed Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile from Vandenberg AFB, Calif., toward a target in the Pacific Ocean. The launch, which was conducted at 11:01 p.m., was meant to test the accuracy and reliability of the system, and was not connected to any real world events, the Air Force told the Associated Press in a statement. In late July, the Air Force destroyed an unarmed ICBM after it launched from Vandenberg and an “anomaly” was discovered that created an “unsafe flight condition,” US Strategic Command boss USAF Gen. John Hyten said at the time. The Air Force regularly tests its Minuteman III ICBMs, but failures like the one in July are rare. Previously, the last failure occurred in July 2011. —Amy McCullough
Air Force Academy Up for Reaccreditation by the Higher Learning Commission
The Air Force Academy will need to prove that it’s up to snuff in everything from academics to institutional ethics come April when it’s slated to host a team of peer reviewers from the Higher Learning Commission. The accreditation visit—the school’s first by HLC in a decade—is scheduled for April 29-30, 2019. HLC will look at the quality of the mission, teaching, resources, and institutional effectiveness, as well as ethical and responsible conduct, according to the commission’s website. The Academy’s been accredited by the institution for 60 years, but reupping this particular laurel isn’t easy, and the site visit is only part of the process. In the meantime, Armacost said, the school must complete “an assurance argument” that shows “with evidence” that the Academy is fulfilling the commission’s requirements. The commission also is actively soliciting public feedback about the Academy. Content criteria and submission information for these comments, which must be received by April 1, are outlined here. If the Academy fails its accreditation, it could face “follow-up inspections” by the commission or completely lose its accredited status, “which would have a severe impact on the ability of the Academy to fulfill its obligation under federal law to produce officers with a Bachelor of Science degree,” the release said. —Jennifer-Leigh Oprihory
RADAR SWEEP
Advance assignments now available to Airmen deploying for 365-day Extended Deployments
Effective Nov. 1, Active Duty airmen selected for an extended deployment may apply to receive an advance assignment up to 16 months prior to the projected Report Not Later Than Date of the assignment. This means airmen can have permanent change of station orders in hand immediately after completing all required PCS actions and before departing on their deployment, providing their dependents the option to move early to their next assignment location. USAF release.
General Atomics to Build Reaper Combat Drones
Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) experts at General Atomics will build additional MQ-9 Reaper unmanned aircraft for surveillance and attack under terms of a $263.4 million contract announced Monday. Military Aerospace
Boeing is Selling Long Beach Property Where it Used to Build Cargo Planes
Three years after Boeing Co. officially ended production of the C-17 Globemaster III cargo plane, the aerospace giant has put up for sale the 90-acre Long Beach facility where the aircraft was built. LA Times
China’s New Upgrade Makes Its Fighter Jets Crazy-Maneuverable
The J-10 fighter plane get thrust vector control, a technology that allows for wild acrobatic aerial maneuvers. Popular Mechanics
USAF to Upgrade A-10Cs With 3D-Audio for Pilot Situational Awareness
The US Air Force (USAF) is moving ahead with plans to equip its Fairchild-Republic A-10C Thunderbolt II combat aircraft with 3D-audio to enhance the situational awareness of its pilots. Jane’s
Report Reveals Few Details About New, Named Ccontingency Operations in Africa
As the Pentagon was in the midst of reviewing new plans for special operations missions in Africa reducing overall troop numbers on the continent, Defense Secretary Jim Mattis designated three new named contingency operations. Military Times
US Senators, Citing Reuters Report, Demand Fixes in Military Housing
Two US senators on Monday called on the Department of Defense and one of its largest landlords to fix housing hazards documented by Reuters at military bases nationwide, including a Marine compound in southern California. Union Leader
Air Force Awards $350M Contract for Support of JASSM Missiles
Lockheed Martin received the contract, which covers lifecycle support for all variants of the missile and includes efforts related to production, integration and sustainment. UPI
Pentagon Rejects Request for Additional Military Resources in Persian Gulf
The Pentagon has rejected a request from the US Central Command for additional military resources in the Persian Gulf to beef up US deterrence against Tehran, according to two defense officials. ABC
Firefighter at Scott Air Force Base Accused of Distributing Child Porn From Work
A Scott Air Force Base firefighter has been charged with two counts of distribution of child pornography in connection with a video sent to two undercover investigators. BND.com
And, in lighter news . . .
Two Marine Pilots Grounded Pending Investigation Into Inappropriate Flight Pattern
Two pilots of a T-34C involved in an alleged sky drawing of male genitalia over California skies in October have been grounded pending an investigation. Marine Corps Times