House Passes Two-Year Budget Deal

The Republican-controlled House overwhelming passed a two-year budget Thursday evening that offers some sequestration relief, provides a bit more stability to Defense Department planners, and averts the possibility of another government shutdown. The budget, written by Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wisc.)...

Air Force Announces Force Management Initiatives

The Air Force recently announced a series of voluntary and involuntary force management programs intended to help it reduce its overall endstrength by as much as 25,000 over the next five years—a necessary step under the sequester. “The difference from...

Plan for Civilian Workforce Reductions

The Air Force rolled out a series of voluntary force shaping measures on Dec. 11 that will help it reach its goal of cutting about 900 civilian positions and leaving some 7,000 vacancies unfilled in Fiscal 2014, according to a...

Scorpion’s Maiden Flight

By Arie Church
Scorpion—Textron AirLand’s new light attack intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance aircraft—lifted off on its maiden flight from McConnell AFB, Kan., Thursday, company officials announced. Test pilots flew a series of handling checks, landing safely back at McConnell after 1.4-hours aloft, states the...

MC-12 May Go Army

The Fiscal 2014 defense authorization bill, announced by leaders from both sides of the aisle this week, requires the Defense Secretary to draft a plan for the “potential” transfer of MC-12 Liberty intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance aircraft to the Army,...

US Renews Security Agreement with Qatar

By Marc V. Schanz
The US and Qatar have renewed their defense cooperation agreement, which governs training, exercises, and other “cooperative activities” between the two militaries, said Assistant Pentagon Press Secretary Carl Woog in a statement. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel and Qatari Minister of...

Guard Pilots Awarded DFC

Lt. Col. Paul Zurkowski and Maj. Christopher Cisneros, both A-10 pilots assigned to the Maryland Air National Guard’s 104th Fighter Squadron, were awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross with Valor for their heroic actions during a firefight in Afghanistan. The pilots...

Langley Intel

Two Air Force Reserve intelligence squadrons activated at JB Langley-Eustis, Va., last week. The 63rd Intelligence Squadron, which reports to the 480th ISR Wing and the 497th ISR Group, activated during a Dec. 6 ceremony at Langley-Eustis. The squadron is...

Thunderbirds are Back

The Thunderbirds are back after a one-year hiatus due to sequestration. The demonstration team will kick off its 2014 season with a Jan. 1 flyover of the Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, Calif. Other high-profile events include, a Feb....