Space Force’s Org Chart | Fewer U.S. Troops in Germany | Plan to Bring Turkey Back into F-35 Program

July 1, 2020

Edited by Amy McCullough with Rachel S. Cohen, Brian W. Everstine, Alyk Russell Kenlan and John A. Tirpak

U.S. Space Command boss and Space Force Chief of Space Operations Gen. John W. Raymond and Senior Enlisted Adviser Chief Master Sgt. Roger A. Towberman present President Donald J. Trump with the Space Force flag in the Oval Office of the White House on May 15, 2020. White House photo by Shealah Craighead.

Space Force Finalizes Organizational Changes

By Rachel S. Cohen

The Space Force announced June 30 it will organize its personnel into three levels: squadrons at the bottom, then newly named “deltas” instead of wings, and field commands at the top. Each will start standing up as smaller organizations this summer. The decision is an initial step toward building the Space Force differently than the Air Force, a five-tiered bureaucracy of squadrons, groups, wings, numbered Air Forces, and major commands. Space Force officials argue a flatter organizational chart will make it more flexible than its predecessor, Air Force Space Command.

Trump Approves Plan to Withdraw Troops from Germany, as Senators Vie to Block the Move

By Brian W. Everstine

A bipartisan group of senators are attempting to block the White House’s effort to reduce the number of U.S. troops in Germany, saying such a step would be a “gift” to Russia. On June 29, a group of senators led by Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) introduced an amendment to the fiscal 2021 defense policy bill to limit the use of Defense Department funds to reduce the amount of troops in Germany. The measure was also supported by Sens. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), and Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.). President Donald J. Trump has said he wants the Pentagon to withdraw about 10,000 forces from Germany and cap the total that could be deployed to the country at one time at 25,000. Some of these forces would move to Poland, though most would come home or instead go to the Indo-Pacific Command theater.

Thune Plan for Turkey: Sell U.S. the Triumf, All Will Be Forgiven on F-35

By John A. Tirpak

If Turkey sells the U.S. the advanced S-400 air defense system it bought from Russia, Ankara could resume its lucrative role in the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program, under provisions inserted in the Senate's version of the 2021 defense policy bill by Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.). Turkey's insistence on going through with the purchase caused it to be expelled from the F-35 program, costing it potential billions in manufacturing and support work. Meanwhile, another amendment would compel the Trump administration to punish Turkey for the S-400 deal.

Republicans, Democrats Find Common Ground with NDAA

By Rachel S. Cohen

The head of the House Armed Services Committee calls himself an optimist. This year, he also has to be a realist. Rep. Adam Smith (D-Wash.), tried to pack Democratic priorities into his committee’s version of the fiscal 2021 defense policy bill—though not enough, according to some progressives and policy advocates—and ultimately came up with legislation that will spark fewer fireworks than last year. “By and large, those have been resolved,” Smith told reporters during a June 30 Defense Writers Group event. “Not all of them have been resolved to my satisfaction, but nothing has changed in terms of the control of the Senate, the control of the White House, control of the House. We fought those battles, we see the outcome, and so there is not the necessity to fight them again, in many instances.” Ranking member Rep. Mac Thornberry (R-Texas) recently noted the 2021 bill "is not the bill I would have written, but on the whole, it is one I agree with and can support."

Travel Restrictions Lifted for Nearly All States, Some Installations Increase Protection Measures

By Brian W. Everstine

The Pentagon is giving the green light for personnel movement to more states and countries amid the COVID-19 pandemic, though some installations are retightening restrictions as cases increase in specific areas. The Defense Department on June 29 updated its list of “green locations,” where personnel are allowed to travel, leaving just three states—California, Michigan, and Florida—off limits. Additionally, the District of Columbia, Guam, and Puerto Rico are “green,” along with the countries of Bahrain, Belgium, Germany, Japan, South Korea, and the United Kingdom. Pentagon policy states travel to locations can continue with the removal of shelter-in-place orders or other restrictions, there’s a 14-day downward trajectory of flu-like and COVID-19-like symptoms, and a 14-day downward trajectory of new COVID-19 cases.

Eielson F-35A Deliveries Continue on Schedule

By Alyk Russell Kenlan

Three F-35A Lightning IIs arrived at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, on June 25, doubling the size of the base’s F-35A fleet. Eielson will receive 48 more aircraft by December next year, giving Alaska the highest concentration of combat-coded, fifth-generation fighter aircraft of any state. “Alaska is poised to become a premier training range for the Pacific Air Forces, sister DOD services, and international partners across the theater,” Lt. Col. James Christensen, the 356th Fighter Squadron commander in a June 25 press release.

Virtual Events: Goldfein Discusses the State of USAF at Brookings, and More

By Jennifer-Leigh Oprihory

Today, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David L. Goldfein will appear in conversation with Brookings Institution Senior Fellows Michael E. O’Hanlon and Frank A. Rose where they're discuss the state of the service, innovation efforts, recruitment, the Space Force's development, and more. Learn more about the event or register for the webcast here.

Radar Sweep

Snapshot: DOD and COVID-19

Air Force Magazine

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

Cluster of COVID-19 Cases in U.S. Troops Emerges at Kuwaiti Air Base

Military.com

A Middle East air base where U.S. troops operate alongside Kuwaiti counterparts is experiencing a new cluster of COVID-19 cases.

Basic Cadet Training is Underway, with COVID Restrictions, at the Air Force Academy for the Class of 2024

Air Force Times

The Air Force Academy’s Class of 2024 has started Basic Cadet Training—with some added precautions in place amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Changes in Military Recruiting May Endure after Pandemic

The Associated Press

COVID-19 has had a dramatic impact on military recruiting, closing enlistment stations and forcing thousands of recruiters to woo potential troops online, or even on their front steps.

Suspicions of Russian Bounties Were Bolstered by Data on Financial Transfers

The New York Times (Subscription Required)

Analysts have used other evidence to conclude that the transfers were most likely part of an effort to offer payments to Taliban-linked militants to kill American and coalition troops in Afghanistan.

Schiff Wants U.S. to Weigh Russia Sanctions after Bounty Briefing

Reuters

The United States should weigh new sanctions on Russia to deter its “malign” actions, a senior Democratic lawmaker said on June 30 after a White House briefing on a reported Russian effort to pay the Taliban to kill U.S. Soldiers in Afghanistan.

Defense Bill Would Give Pentagon Power over Energy’s Nuclear Arms Budget

CQ Roll Call

Tucked deep inside the Senate’s defense authorization bill is a provision that experts say would give nuclear weapons advocates extraordinary new power to influence the President’s budget every year.

Military Aviation Mishaps and Deaths Are Declining for the First Time in Years

Air Force Times

The military services saw an overall decline in the total number of serious aviation mishaps and aviation-related fatalities in 2019, reversing a trend in recent years that saw record-high numbers of serious aviation mishaps and deaths in recent years.

SCO, Air Force Shaping Plans for Arsenal Plane Experimentation

Inside Defense

The Air Force is working with the Pentagon's Strategic Capabilities Office to develop a plan to prototype and experiment with stand-in/stand-off weapons delivery and recently released a technology survey seeking information from industry and academia about existing technologies that could help the service mature its Arsenal Plane concept.

Faster Acquisition

Air Force Magazine

The Air Force is leveraging emerging technologies and new legislation to accelerate acquisition decisions and streamline sustainment. Read more here.

U.S. Commandos at Risk for Suicide: Is the Military Doing Enough?

The New York Times Magazine (Subscription Required)

An unreleased report commissioned by U.S. Special Operations Command found deficiencies in the military’s suicide-prevention programs for its elite troops.

Esper and Milley to Testify July 9 about Military Response to Protests

Inside Defense

House Armed Services Committee Chairman Adam Smith (D-Wash.) said June 30 that Defense Secretary Mark T. Esper and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark A. Milley are slated to testify before the committee July 9 on the military's response to recent protests.

One More Thing

Here Are the Air Force's Reports on Aircrew Encounters with Unidentified Flying Craft

The Drive

This is what the Air Force says it has in its safety records system about the issue, but it’s possible, if not probable, there's more elsewhere.