Stress and RPAs

A new study on RPA crews indicates their greatest challenge isn't PTSD, it's burn-out from long hours and inadequate staffing. But there's still the dissonance of remotely killing someone half the world away, then, two hours later, taking your kid to a soccer match. 

"We try to select people who are well-adjusted. We select family people. People of good moral standing, background, integrity," said Lieutenant Colonel Kent McDonald, who was also involved with the study.

"And when they have to kill someone, and when they're involved with missions when they're observing people over long periods of time, and then they either kill them or see them killed, it does cause them to re-think aspects of their life and it can be bothersome."

Read the article here.

SECDEF Addresses Cadets at USAFA

In case you missed it... SECDEF addressed the wing and permanent party today:

"I’m concerned that the view still lingers in some corners that once I depart as Secretary, and once U.S. forces drawdown in Iraq and in Afghanistan in accordance with the President’s and NATO’s strategy, things can get back to what some consider to be real Air Force normal. This must not happen."

Read the speech here.