Elementary - Dear Watson said:
What do you feel is the biggest challenge USAF has to face at this time within it's organisation?
Have you served with anyone from other nation's forces?
How do you see USAF's contribution to international coalitions, and do you think it can be increased?
If you could be in any other Air Force in the world, which would it be?
Do you feel that the US E1-9 system means there are too many ranks, resulting in ranks being devalued due to having no extra responsibility to those directly below them? Do you think that having less, more defined ranks at the enlisted level would create a more stable rank structure and give ranks more meaning when you promote to them?
Social change and budget restraints. The USAF is leading the way in breaking gender barriers and sexuality issues but it has not been painless. My BMT squadron commander was recently slandered in a Ted Cruz campaign video by a disgruntled Sergeant who had a "religious objection" to her sexuality. But overall the AF is very inclusive and the penalties for discrimination are harsh and have been applied. A lot of the old ways are dying this generation for sure.
Lower budgets are a blessing and a curse for the Guard. The Guard used to be how you avoided deployment in war time during Vietnam but that has changed. We accomplish missions for a lot less money than active duty squadrons do. Of course there is also the constant struggle to stay relevant with some Guard bases around the nation being constantly down sized. Being average is not the way to stay safe from the accountants today.
Actively served with, no. I did train with some sailors from Egypt for a week during tech school, they were polite but we couldn't really communicate and they kept us separate outside of class.
Our mission statement is to fly, fight and win in air, space and cyberspace. That is what we do in coalition warfare. I believe our space and cyberspace components are going to become massively more important than our bombers and fighters in the next ten years. A virus can do what carpet bombing can do for a fraction of the cost sometimes. Our Intel work is also going to become ever more important as we continue to fight asymmetrical wars against imbeded resistance.
We are also the trump card, the ultimate deterrent because we have the ICBM's. Yes the Navy has submarines but we have the rest. The AF has the capability to end the planet, it keeps hostile nations from wanting to utilize their nuclear weapons against us (I am sure you have heard of mutual annihilation.)
Our contributions are significant but on the battlefield we are a smaller part. Army and Marine units will have a Tac-P or Combat Controller attached, this Airman will coordinate close air support skr air strikes and engage hostiles with conventional means. Our other special forces component is the Para jumpers who are a special ops rescue team, they get called in to evacuate special ops teams from any branch as well as downed pilots. Of course the flight crews and aircraft maintainers like me do our part to ensure the US owns the skies over any area we choose to engage as well, that has been such a prevalent thing that it almost seems to be taken for granted these days.
I would not be in any other countries armed forces, period. If I had to switch I would go to active duty air force or (if pressed super hard) the US Navy.
The rank system seems okay but it I a bit diluted. E-1 and E-2 barely exist in the active duty air force and reserves and are non existent in the Air Guard. Enlisting for six years instead of four means even without college you receive E-3 after tech school, since I have a degree I was classed as an E-3 from the day I started basic training. Very few people are enlisting in active duty for only four years now since the benefits of the advanced rank are so awesome.
If it was to be updated I would say they could remove E-1 (Airman Basic) since it only lasts for six months time in service anyway. That would make me an E-2 though, so nobody wants it, lol.
