Air Force Magazine
Daily Report for March 26, 2020

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Edited by Amy McCullough with Rachel S. Cohen, Brian W. Everstine, Jennifer-Leigh Oprihory and John A. Tirpak

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Stimulus Package Keeps Military Leaders in Place During Pandemic, Offers DOD $10.5 Billion
By Rachel S. Cohen

The $2.2 trillion stimulus package under consideration on Capitol Hill to deal
with the spreading coronavirus pandemic would allow military leaders, including
Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Goldfein and Space Force Chief of Space
Operations Gen. Jay Raymond, to stay in their posts longer than planned for
continuity, according to bill text released March 25 by the Senate
Appropriations Committee. President Donald Trump may extend their tenure
“until the date of the appointment of the successor to such incumbent,” the
legislation states. The Trump administration on March 2 nominated Pacific Air
Forces boss Gen. C.Q. Brown to replace Goldfein, who has served as the Air
Force’s top uniformed officer since July 2016. His term is set to expire this
year.

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Military Raises Health Protection Level Globally, Halts Deployments
By Brian W. Everstine

The Defense Department on March 25 raised its Health Protection Condition level
at every military installation globally to the second highest level as the new
coronavirus outbreak spreads and more personnel test positive for the COVID-19
virus. The level—Health Protection Condition Charlie—means the virus has
sustained community transition with a substantial morbidity threat. The
designation means personnel should expect the cancelation of in-person
gatherings, the limited access of supplies and services, and even more remote
work. On March 25, the total number of COVID-19 positive cases across Active
duty, dependents, civilians, and contractors jumped by 94 from the previous day
to a total of 435, including both current and recovered.

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COVID-19 Halts F-35 Flight Testing Until Further Notice
By John A. Tirpak

Flight testing of the F-35 and other aircraft has been paused at Edwards Air
Force Base, Calif., due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, Pentagon acquisition
and sustainment chief Ellen Lord declined to say whether this will delay the
F-35's full-rate production decision, which is expected a year from now.

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BMT Trainee Tests Positive for COVID-19
By Brian W. Everstine

A trainee at the Air Force’s Basic Military Training has tested positive for
the new coronavirus, prompting the trainee and 40 others to be placed in
isolation. It is the first COVID-19 case in basic training at Joint Base San
Antonio-Lackland, Texas. The trainee first reported on March 18, and was
isolated once they started showing symptoms. “While a positive COVID-19
discovery is not desirable, the good news is we planned for this and our
preparations worked. The trainees were restricted during the incubation period
and this allowed for limited exposure,” Lt. Gen. Brad Webb, commander of Air
Education and Training Command, said in a release.

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Senate Moves to Written Q&A for Defense Hearings
By Rachel S. Cohen

Starting this week, the Senate Armed Services Committee will hold hearings using
only written questions and answers, while the new coronavirus keeps the panel
from convening as usual. In a delayed process dubbed “paper hearings,” SASC
will post the opening statements from Chairman Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) and
Ranking Member Sen. Jack Reed (D-R.I.) as well as all witness testimony.
Committee members will submit their questions ahead of time, and the Pentagon
will receive them at the time a hearing is scheduled. SASC will hold its first
paper hearing March 26 to discuss the Army’s fiscal 2021 outlook.

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ACC to Award ‘Red Air’ Contracts for Six Bases
By Amy McCullough

Air Combat Command plans to award multiple adversary air support contracts for
six bases as early as April, but the contracts are just a fraction of what was
originally anticipated. “The math for the original plan was based on what we
can do to maximize using contract resources to improve the readiness of the
force,” ACC boss Gen. Mike Holmes told reporters at AFA’s Air Warfare
Symposium in Orlando, Fla., last month. “Every plan comes up against budgets.
What we have now is a matter of what’s affordable.”

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DOD Takes Steps to Protect Defense Industry Amid Coronavirus Pandemic
By John A. Tirpak

Most industrial defense work is proceeding without interruption during the
coronavirus pandemic, Pentagon acquisition and sustainment chief Ellen Lord said
March 25., but lingering uncertainties prompted her to issue memos about how
"critical" it is that those efforts continue. She also voiced concern that the
situation presents an "attack surface" for hostile powers seeking to buy access
to innovative companies.

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Radar Sweep

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Snapshot: DOD and COVID-19

Here's a look at how the Defense Department is being impacted by and responding
to the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Defense Industry to DOD: If We Send Workers Home, Will You Penalize Us?

Executives want clarity on Defense Department guidance that suggests they must
choose between sending employees to factories or defaulting on contracts.

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Financial Cost of Coronavirus Leads Top Counterintelligence Official to Relax Top-Secret Clearance Rules

The government's top counterintelligence official is telling security officers
across the Executive Branch to relax rules for vetting workers with Top Secret
clearances, citing financial hardships that may hit as a result of the
coronavirus. William Evanina, director of the National Counterintelligence and
Security Center, said March 23 that workers with financial problems needed to be
reconsidered in a new context, not as security risks or disqualified to hold a
clearance.

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VA Intends to Pause Community Care Program During Coronavirus Pandemic

The Veterans Affairs Department plans to pause its community care program for 90
days in order to free space across private health care systems for coronavirus
patients and prevent veterans’ exposure.

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Amazon: Pentagon Trying to ‘Gerrymander’ JEDI Corrective Action

In a March 24 legal filing, Amazon Web Services accused the Defense Department
of attempting to “gerrymander” revisions to the Joint Enterprise Defense
Infrastructure cloud contract it proposed to make earlier this month.

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A New Training System for the Air Force’s Airborne ICBM Launch Center is Coming Soon

Next month, the Air Force is expected to get a new training system for its
airborne ICBM command post after the older system was damaged in devastating
floods in 2019. Offutt Air Force Base, located near Omaha, Neb., is set to
receive a shipment for a virtual Airborne Launch Control System trainer in
April, said Lt. Col. Matthew Hlivko, commander of the 625th Strategic Operations
Squadron.

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Rapid Acquisition & Sustainment

The Air Force and U.S. defense establishment are breaking down barriers and
injecting speed, innovation, and creativity into the procurement system. Check
out our new page to learn more about these efforts.

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Congressionally Created Commission Recommends Requiring that Women Register for Draft

A congressionally appointed commission will recommend that women be required to
register for the draft, the top Republican on the House Armed Services Committee
and a committee aide confirmed March 24. “The commissioners have made
significant recommendations about the future of national service. In the context
of future great power competition or modern pandemic response, all of their
proposals deserve attention and consideration,” Rep. Mac Thornberry (R-Texas)
said in a statement after being briefed by several members of the National
Commission on Military, National, and Public Service.

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Mountain Home Air Force Base First to Use Plate Carriers Designed for Women

Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho, is evolving its equipment for the women who
serve in security forces on the base.

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One More Thing...
New Video of the Russian Su-57 Shows Missile Launch from the Jet’s Side-Weapon Bay for the First Time

Along with outstanding aerial footage, a new promotional video released by
Russia’s defense ministry seems to show the use of an air-to-air missile
fitted inside the wing root bays.

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