The school welcomed its first class of trainees into the new program at Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama, on Tuesday. The Air Force is looking to retrain noncommissioned officers into service jobs that are understaffed. Pilots whose initial contracts expire in fiscal 2024 or 2025 can sign new agreements to serve for another four to 12 years. Pilots, air battle managers and combat systems operators who sign new contracts will receive between $15,000 and $50,000 annually for three to 12 years. It's the most competitive round of on-time promotions to lieutenant colonel since the Air Force overhauled its selection process in 2020. Retired Lt. Col. Robert Birchum was sentenced Thursday for unlawfully possessing classified documents. Air Force Maj. Stephen Khou, 36, of Philadelphia, was deployed to Kuwait as an active duty cyber officer with Operation Inherent Resolve. Two sources confirmed to Defense News that the president has chosen Gen. Brown to succeed Army Gen. Mark Milley as the nation’s top military officer. Gen. Kenneth Wilsbach is a career fighter pilot who has spent most of the past four decades in the Pacific. Around 46,000 troops and civilian staff are spread across Air Force bases from Alaska to Guam. Load More