Pentagon personnel chief David S.C. Chu told lawmakers the Defense Department plans to ask Congress to extend the military’s pay table to 40 years of service. At a Capitol Hill hearing March 2, Chu said the department wants to be able “to encourage some people to stay longer,” recognizing that longer service with “some degree of additional pay increase.” The proposal fits in with the recommendation (see above) of the Advisory Committee on Military Compensation to match pay with performance. Although, Chu offered no details, presumably the individuals asked to “stay longer” would be top performers or those in hard to fill career fields.
Unmanned aerial vehicles are fair game for U.S. Special Operations Command’s armed overwatch platform competition, Air Force Special Operations Command boss Lt. James C. “Jim” Slife told reporters on Feb. 26. However, the MQ-9 Reaper drone might not be up to the challenge in its current form, he suggested during…