Air Education and Training Command released a strategic plan for 2016 aimed at “forging innovative airmen to power the world’s greatest Air Force,” according to a release. AETC is “foundational to everything the US Air Force does. This plan clearly articulates how we can be successful today and agile enough to meet future challenges to keep America’s Air Force the strongest on the planet,” Commander Lt. Gen. Darryl Roberson said in the release. The plan has four strategic vectors: motivational mission accomplishment, taking care of airmen and families, innovation, and leadership. Roberson said it “intentionally aligns our mission to Air Force imperatives, and it’s intentionally short.” (Read the full plan.)
U.S. Air Force F-35s and F-22s regularly deploy deep into the Pacific region from Alaska, Utah, and Hawaii. In the future, though, the head of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command would like to see the Air Force permanently station fifth-generation aircraft west of the international date line—closer to China.