USAF officials want to fill 40 critical positions with former service personnel who have served in specific career fields: airborne or ground cryptology linguistics; combat control; tactical air command and control; survival, evasion, resist, and escape operations; pararescue; explosive ordnance disposal. The last field listed in an Air Force news release is a strange bedfellow for these combat-type jobs—premier or regional band. Go figure.
Lloyd Austin, President-elect Joe Biden’s pick to lead the Pentagon, spent his Senate confirmation hearing on Jan. 19 pressing his civilian bona fides to lawmakers, with some pledging opposition to the waiver Austin would need to become the nation’s first Black Defense Secretary. Austin spent 40 years in the military…