The Air Force Research Laboratory issued a plan to harness technology to more effectively track, and sustain the oldest average aircraft fleet the Air Force has ever operated, officials announced. The Sustainment Science and Technology Strategy, published in June, lays out a plan to “start with improving sustainment and making the job easier and move to harnessing digital capabilities,” said Joe Baker, AFRL’s head of sustainment in a July 8 release. “Looking into the future we know we cannot recapitalize at the pace the Air Force originally planned, so AFRL is investing to help ensure our fleet is operational and economical for a long time to come,” he added. The new strategy highlights AFRL’s ideas for preserving airframes and structures, introducing new fabrication processes, using high-tech diagnostics, and improving manufacturing, according to the release. “By harnessing the digital age, we will be better informed to make improved decisions on how to most affordably maintain our fleet,” Baker said.
The Air Force Personnel Center announced that just 14.8 percent of eligible tech sergeants were selected for promotion to master sergeant in the 22E7 promotion cycle, marking the service’s lowest E-7 promotion rate since at least 2010. All told, 4,040 technical sergeants were selected to become master sergeants out of…