“Every one of these incidents could have possibly been prevented,” Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall said. The policy aims to give troops more control over their careers and keep them in uniform longer. It’s the service’s latest move to improve quality of life and boost retention as it faces staffing shortages in key fields. “We get it, folks. We have seen the memes and the jokes,” Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force JoAnne Bass said on Facebook. There's a lack of hard information on why propensity to serve is falling, and whether there's an ideological shift in attitude toward military service. "If we pay attention to this as leaders, we can make a difference," Secretary Frank Kendall said. Space Force officials are also trying to bake personalization and flexibility into the assignment process. Air Force leaders are sifting through a list of proposed changes to how airmen are assigned new jobs, and may announce updates by the end of September. A pilot program for online Weighted Airman Promotion System tests would likely involve multiple bases around the globe. “We have worked really hard ... to make sure to get the train back on the track," Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force JoAnne Bass said. Load More