Queried by a reporter at the Pentagon yesterday about how the Army can continue its present and projected pace without more free use of reserve forces, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld replied: “There are a variety of things you can do. You can continue to do what we’re doing, moving military people out of civilian posts that civilians can occupy; you can use the Air Force and the Navy to a greater extent than they’ve been used.” Perhaps realizing what he had just said, Rumsfeld quickly added, “They’re leaning very far forward already and have done a terrific job in both Iraq and Afghanistan and in various other backup activities.” Yikes.
Congress wants new engines in the F-35 fleet, with installs starting in 2027, according to language in the conference version of the 2022 National Defense Authorization Act. The Air Force is to use at least one of the engines developed under the Advanced Engine Transition Program, but the Navy and…