Category: Defense

Source: United States Air Force

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas (AFNS) —  

The Department of the Air Force is set to amend childcare fees, effective Dec. 31, in keeping with the new Department of Defense Program Fee Policy for school year 2023-2024.

“The Defense Department is adjusting how much service members pay in childcare fees for the 2023-2024 school year to reduce the burden on lower-income families and meet the intent of Executive Order 14095,” according to a DoD release.

Executive Order 14095, “Increasing Access to High-Quality Care and Supporting Caregivers,” directs the DoD to improve the affordability of childcare on military installations.

The new fee policy reduces the number of fee categories from 14 to 11, modifies the total family income categories and increases the highest income category to $160,001 and above.

“These adjustments provide a more equitable division of fees based on total family income,” said Lesley Smith, Air Force Services Center chief of Air Force Child and Youth Programs.

“We’re mission enablers and our goal is to care for Air and Space Forces families not only through our traditional programs, but in our local communities as well. These adjusted fees will allow our members to receive high-quality care at a reasonable cost,” she said.

The new fee policy also increases the fee assistance provider rate cap for community-based providers and military-certified family childcare providers up to $100 a month per child.

“Changes to the fee policy will ensure DoD can continue to invest in our service members by providing quality, affordable childcare through both installation-based programs and community-based fee assistance,” said Grier Martin, performing the duties of the assistant secretary of defense for Manpower and Reserve Affairs. “We recognize the importance of providing military families and DoD civilians with access to quality and affordable childcare, and we’re committed to addressing the increased demand and challenges for this critical issue which directly impacts the readiness of the Total Force.”

Following routine, all-inclusive assessments of childcare fees, the school year 2023-2024 fee policy was developed to make the cost of childcare more equitable and affordable for families with the greatest economic need by reducing the percentage of income that lower income families devote to their childcare needs, according to the DoD news release.

The DoD is also expanding eligibility to service members for Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts. Service members can enroll during the 2023 Federal Benefits Open Season in mid-November through mid-December 2023, and accounts will start for those enrolled on Jan. 1.

Overall, these childcare fee policy changes will help the DoD continue to provide quality child development services to military families, “which is consistent with our ongoing efforts to both improve the affordability of childcare and recruit and retain CDP workers,” Martin said.

The updated DAF fee policy will be released in the next few weeks and will provide more guidance for Air and Space Forces families.

Source: United States Air Force

DUKE FIELD, Fla. (AFNS) —  

AFWERX and one of its Prime division partners, BETA Technologies, an electric aerospace company, broke ground on the first electric aircraft charging station on a military installation at Duke Field Sept. 19.

The expected completion date for the Level 3 direct current electric vehicle fast charging station construction project is Oct. 13, weeks before BETA’s electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft arrives for testing.

“Level 1 is a typical home power outlet and would take days to charge an eVTOL. Level 2 is a dryer or air conditioning outlet and would take hours. Level 3 is a supercharger and only takes minutes,” said Maj. Riley Livermore, 413th Flight Test Squadron flight commander.

“And that’s what these companies need, because if you want to make it viable from a commercial or military perspective, I can’t wait 24 hours to charge my airplane. They need to do it in less than an hour.” – Maj. Riley Livermore, 413th Flight Test Squadron flight commander

To achieve the speeds necessary for fast charging, Level 3 chargers require an extremely high-powered current. To provide enough power to the 480-volt, 400-amp charging station, Livermore said the base had to upgrade its power grid and bought a 1000-kilowatt volt-amp transformer that can increase or decrease the voltage and intensity of an electric current while keeping electricity flow consistent.

“You can power roughly 250 homes simultaneously with the amount of power one charger is using,” Livermore added.

Located 10 miles north of Eglin Air Force Base, Duke Field was strategically selected as the test field for electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft. The field is home to the Air Force’s rotary wing test squadron, the 413th Flight Test Squadron.

“The 413th has a breadth of experience testing a variety of rotor wing aircraft and we’re looking to those experts to assist with the testing of eVTOL aircraft,” said Maj. Anthony Zartman, AFWERX Agility Prime program lead. “We’ve grown to the point now with our partners that we’re ready to put hardware at multiple bases and take a close look at possible use cases. It’s an exciting time for our program.”

AFWERX is partnering with the eVTOL commercial industry to bring zero-emission aviation to the military along with other benefits, including a quiet noise profile and the cost savings to operate and maintain its fleet without dependency on traditional fossil fuels.

“Our mission is to continue to be at the leading edge of emerging technologies in the aerospace industry,” Zartman added. “AFWERX has integrated with each of these eVTOL companies as early as possible, so we can potentially influence those designs and also be up to speed on the pros and cons of current technology. Then we’ll decide whether or not to continue to pursue those technologies, or perhaps pursue them in different ways. When the technology is advanced to a level where it provides a capability for the warfighter, we’ll be ready to pull the trigger and execute.”

Source: United States Air Force

ARLINGTON, Va. (AFNS) —  

Melissa Dalton was nominated as under secretary of the Air Force by President Joe Biden Sept. 21.

If confirmed, Dalton would be the 28th official to hold the position.

“On behalf of the Department of the Air Force, we congratulate the Honorable Melissa Dalton on her nomination to serve as the next Under Secretary of the Air Force,” said Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall. “I look forward to the Senate’s consideration of her nomination and, if confirmed, working with her on behalf of all Airmen and Guardians.”

The position of under secretary of the Air Force assists the Secretary of the Air Force to manage the Department of the Air Force, made up of two military services, the Air Force and the Space Force. Duties of the position include assisting with the development and implementation of policy for organizing, training, and equipping Air Forces and Space Forces comprised of 700,000 active duty, Guard, Reserve and civilian Airmen and Guardians and their families serving around the world.

“Melissa has a distinguished career of service to the nation and service members and their families, including as principal deputy assistant secretary of defense for Strategy, Plans, and Capabilities and now assistant secretary of defense for Homeland Defense and Hemispheric Affairs,” Kendall said. “Her experience and deep expertise will serve the Air Force and Space Force well. I commend President Biden and Secretary Austin for her nomination.”

Kristyn E. Jones, assistant secretary of the Air Force for Financial Management and Comptroller, has performed the duties of the vacated role of under secretary of the Air Force since March 6, 2023.

“The Honorable Kristyn Jones will continue to perform the duties of the under secretary of the Air Force, pending Melissa’s confirmation,” Kendall said. “Kristyn’s dedicated leadership and many contributions to the Department are deeply appreciated.”