A new squadron at Beale AFB, California, will handle the battle management data collected by manned aircraft, drones and other military systems. The percentage of master sergeants picked to advance is rebounding from its most recent low in 2021, when the E-8 selection rate fell below 7%. A move by VA officials to simplify rules for the Post-9/11 GI Bill could cause new problems, advocates warn. The Pentagon acknowledged an American MQ-9 Reaper drone went down recently in the Red Sea amid an ongoing battle with Houthi militants in the region. The Air Force’s E-7 will be modified to meet U.S. satellite communication, military GPS and cybersecurity and program protection requirements. The Crew-9 mission is part of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, designed to shuttle workers to and from the International Space Station. Officials have no plans to try and recoup the money, noting that no laws appear to have been violated by the doubled stipend payments. The latest figure is 2.2 percentage points higher than last year’s selection rate, and 4.3 percentage points higher than the recent low of 18.2% in 2021. The first field-ready MH-139 is in final assembly, and is slated to be delivered in 2024. With the Air Force planning to retire the AWACS and replace the B-52's current engines, the contract could last for the remainder of the TF33's life. Load More