Air Force Magazine
Daily Report for June 29, 2020

View in your Web Browser: [link removed]
Edited by Amy McCullough with Rachel S. Cohen, Brian W. Everstine and Jennifer-Leigh Oprihory

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[ Advertisement ]
[link removed]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

NORAD Intercepts 4 Russian Reconnaissance Planes Near Alaska
By Jennifer-Leigh Oprihory

F-22s from the North American Aerospace Defense Command, with help from KC-135
tankers and an E-3 Airborne Warning and Control System, intercepted Russian
aircraft near Alaska for the second time in a week and the sixth time this
month. On June 27, the NORAD fighters intercepted four Russian Tu-142
reconnaissance planes as they encroached upon the Alaskan Air Defense
Identification Zone, according to a command release. The June 27 intercept was
the second interaction between U.S. and Russian aircraft in two days. On June
26, a Russian fighter intercepted a U.S. Navy P-8 Poseidon, USAF RC-135, and
USAF KC-135 over the Black Sea.

[link removed]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

GAO: USAF Doesn’t Have Enough RPA Pilots, Sensor Operators for New Squadron
By Brian W. Everstine

The Air Force may not have enough remotely piloted aircraft pilots and sensor
operators to stand up a new wing in 2024, as it struggles to retain personnel
and increase the size of its instructor pilot cadre, the Government
Accountability Office says in a new report. The service is planning to open a
new RPA wing so it can have enough dwell time within the RPA community to take a
squadron off combat operations to focus on training. The GAO, in the June 25
report, states “the Air Force does not have enough pilots and sensor operators
to meet its staffing targets for its unmanned aircraft.” The GAO also said the
Air Force does not track its overall progress in accessing and retaining enough
RPA personnel to meet the dwell goal, though USAF partially disagreed with that
finding.

[link removed]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[ Advertisement ]
[link removed]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

HASC Funds Nuclear Modernization, With a Few Questions
By Rachel S. Cohen

Nuclear modernization concerns are again on the table for fiscal 2021 defense
policy negotiations, as House lawmakers raise issues about staffing, program
delays, and how to use the weapons themselves. The Air Force’s three major
nuclear weapon upgrade programs—the Ground-Based Strategic Deterrent, the
Long-Range Standoff Weapon, and the B61-12 bomb—all received the funding they
requested in the House Armed Services Committee’s version of the fiscal 2021
defense policy bill. Those programs total $2.9 billion for the upcoming year,
split between the Defense and Energy Departments. That contrasts with last
year’s process, when Democrats tried to shrink GBSD funding in a move that
irked Republicans and contributed to a broader clash over nuclear issues.

[link removed]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Space Force Preps for Third GPS III Launch
By Rachel S. Cohen

The Space Force’s third GPS III satellite will head to space June 30, after
its launch was rescheduled from late April due to the coronavirus pandemic.
SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket will carry the Lockheed Martin-built satellite from
Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla. Once on orbit, it will replace an older
satellite in the 31-piece GPS constellation. New GPS III systems boost the
accuracy of navigation and timing software and are harder to attack by jamming
signals. This is also the first national security space launch in which SpaceX
will try to recover and reuse its rocket booster, said Col. Edward Byrne, senior
materiel leader in the Space and Missile Systems Center’s medium Earth orbit
space systems division.

[link removed]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[ Advertisement ]
[link removed]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Some USAF Bases Increase Restrictions as COVID-19 Cases Surge
By Brian W. Everstine

As states across the country roll back reopening plans, some USAF bases are
tightening their own restrictions following a surge in COVID-19 cases. As of
June 26, there are 1,128 total cases of COVID-19 in the Air Force, with 10,606
across all services including contractors, civilians, and dependents. Joint Base
San Antonio, Texas, on June 26 raised its health protection condition to
Charlie, the second highest, as its host state has become a hot spot for
COVID-19, according to a base news release. The base complex, which includes Air
Force basic military training, had lowered its health protection condition to
Bravo in May. Laughlin Air Force Base in the state confirmed its first case of
the virus on June 24. The base is requiring facial coverings when six feet of
distance is not possible, but has not announced closures or other restrictions.
Goodfellow Air Force Base is following the same guidelines, and encouraging
Airmen to be open about how they feel.

[link removed]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

New Bill Would Let Service Members Anonymously Seek Mental Help
By Brian W. Everstine

Service members will be able to anonymously seek mental health treatment,
without their chain of command being notified, under new proposed legislation.
Rep. Seth Moulton (D-Mass.) introduced the “Brandon Act,” which aims to
protect service members from hazing, bullying, and any other issue if they feel
they need to seek help. The bill is named for U.S. Navy Petty Officer Third
Class Brandon Caserta, who took his own life in 2018 on the flight line at Naval
Air Station Norfolk, Va., after hazing from other members of his squadron.
“This bill will ensure our service members can [get] help and have no fear of
retaliation for doing so, as it’s the right thing to do,” Moulton said in a
statement.

[link removed]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Veterans Nonprofit Looks to Positive Psychology to Promote Personal Resilience
By Jennifer-Leigh Oprihory

Josh Jabin, a Marine Corps veteran and the chief operating officer at the Travis
Manion Foundation, hopes the group's employment of positive psychology to
promote mental health among veterans and the families of fallen service members
can help inspire its broader use to fight suicide—and not just among former
U.S. troops.

[link removed]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

VA Ramps Up Online Women’s Health Transition Trainings Amid COVID-19
By Jennifer-Leigh Oprihory

The Women’s Health Transition Training Program, a joint venture with the
Departments of Veterans Affairs and Defense, has shifted its trainings
completely online through the end of July in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The program teaches woman Active-duty troops about Veterans Health
Administration support services at their disposal before they transition out
into civilian life or a reserve component.

[link removed]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Virtual Events: Harrigian on Mitchell Institute’s ‘Aerospace Nation,’ and More
By Jennifer-Leigh Oprihory

On June 29, Gen. Jeffrey L. Harrigian, who commands U.S. Air Forces in
Europe-U.S. Air Forces in Africa and Allied Air Command, and directs the Joint
Air Power Competence Centre in Kalkar, Germany, will appear on the "Aerospace
Nation" series hosted by AFA's Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies. Event
video will tentatively be posted on Mitchell's <a
href="[link removed]">website</a> and
<a href="[link removed]">YouTube
page</a> following the event.

[link removed]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[ Advertisement ]
[link removed]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Radar Sweep

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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.

[link removed]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

COVID-19's Impact On Key U.S. And European Aircraft Programs

A slideshow examines how the spread of COVID-19 has affected a handful of
domestic and international programs, including the F-35 and Eurofighter.

[link removed]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Lockheed Paid Suppliers $1.1 Billion, Added 8,300 Jobs Since Pandemic

“In this volatile environment, it is more important than ever before to
maintain the operations of the defense industrial base and support our men and
women in uniform,” Lockheed’s new president and CEO, Jim Taiclet, said in a
statement.

[link removed]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Russia Secretly Offered Afghan Militants Bounties to Kill Troops, U.S. Intelligence Says

The United States concluded months ago that the Russian unit, which has been
linked to assassination attempts and other covert operations in Europe intended
to destabilize the West or take revenge on turncoats, had covertly offered
rewards for successful attacks last year. Islamist militants, or armed criminal
elements closely associated with them, are believed to have collected some
bounty money, the officials said. Twenty Americans were killed in combat in
Afghanistan in 2019, but it was not clear which killings were under suspicion.

[link removed]
(Subscription Required)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Coalition Denies Iraqi Militia’s Claim That It Caused C-130 Crash in Iraq

Combined Joint Task Force-Operation Inherent Resolve said June 8 that the
Hercules overran the runway at the base north of Baghdad and crashed into a
wall, sparking a fire and injuring four service members. But the Long War
Journal, a news site that tracks developments in the war on terror, reported
June 19 that a group called the League of the Revolutionaries—an Iranian proxy
operating in Iraq—released a statement that said it carried out a rocket
attack on Camp Taji that evening, and claiming responsibility for the crash.

[link removed]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

OPINION: A-10: Hey Air Force, There’s More to Survival than Hiding

“Anyone who's been around ground combat knows F-35s, F-22s, and legacy fast
jets are far too fast and lack the close in maneuverability to be able detect
camouflaged threats to our troops or to separate friend from foe in a highly
fluid firefight,” writes retired USAF Lt. Col. Brian Boeding, the first Hog
driver to have flown all three A-10 variants in combat.

[link removed]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ohio Congressman Speaks on Space Force HQ Search

Rep. Mike Turner (R-Ohio) said that the search has involved up to 70 locations,
and Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine has thrown his support behind Wright-Patterson Air
Force Base. This comes after Ohio's senators expressed support for the base.

[link removed]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Trump Violated Constitution by Diverting Pentagon Funds to Build Border Wall, Federal Appeals Court Rules

A federal appeals court struck a blow June 26 against President Donald Trump’s
signature domestic achievement, ruling that he acted unlawfully by shifting
Defense Department funds to pay for his much touted wall along the U.S.-Mexico
border. The 2-1 ruling from the California-based 9th Circuit Court of Appeals
could slow construction, days after Trump toured a segment in Yuma, Ariz., to
mark completion of more than 200 miles of new barrier.

[link removed]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Mandatory National Service Would Create a More Equal Society, Former NSA Rice Says

Former National Security Adviser Susan Rice reiterated her support for a program
that would require all Americans to dedicate time in service to their country,
at least in a civilian capacity.

[link removed]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Army Removes Indicators of Race and Gender in Soldier Promotions in an Effort to Fight Bias

The move applies to commissioned officers, warrant officers, and noncommissioned
officers, Army spokesman Lt. Col. Junel Jeffrey said. Prior to the change, both
officers and enlisted Soldiers had to submit a Department of Army photo of
themselves and check a box on promotion packets to indicate their racial origin.

[link removed]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

One More Thing...
Space Satellite Data Reveals the Pandemic’s Effects on Earth

A new dashboard—created by NASA and international partners—enables users to
see changes in air and water quality, greenhouse gases, city nightlights,
economic indicators and agricultural production.

[link removed]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[ Advertisement ]
[link removed]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

- Daily Report: [link removed]
- Contact Us: [link removed]
- Advertise With Us: [link removed]
- Purchase/Reprint: [link removed]

- Air Force Association: [link removed]
- Join AFA: [link removed]

- AF Mag on Facebook: [link removed]
- AF Mag on Twitter: [link removed]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Published by the Air Force Association

All airforcemag.com material is under copyright of
the Air Force Association. All rights reserved.

The Air Force Association
1501 Lee Highway, Arlington, VA
22209-1198

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

To unsubscribe or change your preferences, please visit the link below:
[link removed]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------