Gen. Gary North, commander of Pacific Air Forces, was inducted into the command’s Order of the Sword during a ceremony at JB Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii. “Your dedicated service, your trust, your faith and your confidence in me, and the privileges I have had, specifically to be afforded to serve along side of you, is the greatest privilege that an officer could ever have,” said North following his induction on Aug. 26. The order is the highest honor USAF’s enlisted cadre may bestow upon an individual. “His concern for people and his ability to put people at ease is remarkable. We hope that all airmen would care for people this way,” said CMSAF James Roy, during the ceremony. (Hickam report by SSgt. Gustavo Gonzalez)
Every year, Congress and the military debate which combat assets should head to the boneyard and which have more life left in them. Lawmakers often opt to keep Air Force systems that bring jobs to their districts, which complicates matters as the service looks to modernize and ditch certain platforms.…