Lawmakers earlier this month questioned service officials on whether mashing together the service medical forces is advisable. The Army said yes, while the Air Force and Navy were hesitant, citing the potential to lose expertise in service-specific care—aeromedical evacuation for USAF and sea-going medics for the Navy. The outgoing Air Force Surgeon General, Lt. Gen. George Peach Taylor Jr., also said that the Air Force would have the hardest time shifting to such an operation because its medical services are decentralized. Notwithstanding those caveats, DOD officials are formulating options for presentation to senior leaders later this year. They say that an implementation plan would surface with the 2008 budget request.
Back from a Thanksgiving week recess, the push to pass the 2022 National Defense Authorization Act hit another snag Nov. 29, as the Senate voted against ending debate on its version of the bill. At the same time, Congress is staring down a Dec. 3 expiration date for its continuing…