Not Even a Handshake?: The Air Force has been steadily revamping its personnel operations to trim the number of personnelists needed at each base and to eliminate the need for an airman to stand in line at the local personnel office. The service wants a virtual 24/7 capability. Officials say the most recent changes of several to be implemented through December 2007 make it possible for airmen to correct duty-history mistakes and—get this—apply for retirement online. If an individual’s retirement application flies, the Air Force would send the airman a final DD Form 214 in the mail—goodbye.
Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III chaired a China-focused military briefing Oct. 27, part of a biweekly series of briefings with senior military commanders about China’s growing threat in the wake of an orbital hypersonic weapon test that elicited public worries from the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs. “What we…