February 2014/$10 Rescue, in Afghanistan F-22 Training B-2s Over Korea Sequestration, Pay, and Benefi ts UNCONVENTIONAL. UNDETECTABLE. UNDENIABLE. The F-35A Lightning II delivers the 21st century capabilities U.S. and THE F-35 LIGHTNING II TEAM allied forces need. An innovative combination of stealth, speed, and NORTHROP GRUMMAN F-35 cutting-edge sensors allows it to fl y through or slip past advanced air BAE SYSTEMS PRATT & WHITNEY LIGHTNING II defenses, virtually undetected. Superior battlespace awareness leaves the enemy nowhere to hide. And that gives pilots unprecedented LOCKHEED MARTIN power to engage the target and return home. The F-35A Lightning II. Rising to the challenges of the 21st century. See it in action — F35.com. February 2014, Vol. 97, No. 2 FEATURES 4 Editorial: Compensation Contro- versies By Adam J. Hebert The nation needs to rein in person- nel costs, but it must first keep its promises. 26 Sharpening the Raptor’s Talons By John A. Tirpak The F-22 is the air dominance cream of the crop. USAF intends to keep it that way. 32 Distinguished Rescue By Marc V. Schanz USAF’s rescue airmen helped fight off a deadly ambush and pull com- batants from a mountain firefight in Afghanistan. 37 2013: Year One of 10? By Amy McCullough Meet the new normal. It will prob- ably include tiered readiness, abandoned missions, grounded squadrons, and canceled classes. 40 Mission Accomplished By Peter Grier 26 In November, three of the four surviv- ing Doolittle Raiders raised their goblets, one last time, to honor their fallen comrades. 46 Bitter Pills By Frank Oliveri The US can’t pay its troops enough for their service, but it also can’t afford continually rising compen- sation. 50 Stealth Bomber, Public Messages By Megan Scully A B-2 bomber mission to the Ko- rean Peninsula was highlighted by USAF’s burgeoning social media effort. 56 In the Trenches of Cyber Warfare By June L. Kim Many fail to appreciate the threats lurking in the cyber realm. 60 AirLand Reversal About the cover: USAF pararescuemen By Benjamin S. Lambeth from the 83rd Rescue Squadron secure Airpower has eclipsed land power an area in Afghanistan. See “Distinguished as the primary means of destroying Rescue,” p. 32. USAF photo by SSgt. Jona- enemy forces. than Snyder. 40 AIR FORCE Magazine / February 2014 1 FEATURES 65 Air Interdiction By Phillip S. Meilinger The mission began in World War I and has been employed with vary- ing success but increasing impor- tance. 70 Lady Be Good By John Lowery The B-24 crew broke all records for human endurance without water, food, or shelter—but died before escaping the Sahara. 65 www.airforcemag.com Publisher: Craig R. McKinley Editor in Chief: Adam J. Hebert Managing Editor: Juliette Kelsey Chagnon Executive Editors: Michael C. Sirak, John A. Tirpak News Editor: Amy McCullough Senior Editor: Marc V. Schanz Senior Designer: Heather Lewis 70 Special Projects Manager: Gideon Grudo Designer: Darcy Lewis Assistant Managing Editor: Frances McKenney DEPARTMENTS Associate Editors: Aaron M. U. Church, June L. Kim, Merri M. Shaffer 6 Letters Production Manager: Eric Chang Lee 10 Aperture Photo Editor: Zaur Eylanbekov Complexity costs for the F-35; JSF Media Research Editor: Chequita Wood is the fi rst real joint aircraft; 2030 Air Dominance fi ghter?; That F-35 is a Contributors: Walter J. Boyne, Robert S. Dudney, Peter Grier, Benjamin S. pretty good deal, actually .... Lambeth, John Lowery, Phillip S. Meilinger, Frank Oliveri, Megan Scully 14 Air Force World Advertising: Andraea Davis, Mohanna Sales Representative 21 Senior Staff Changes 214/291-3660 [email protected] 22 Index to Advertisers 24 Chart Page: Not Over There 1501 Lee Highway Arlington, Va. 22209-1198 49 Verbatim Tel: 703/247-5800 76 AFA National Report Telefax: 703/247-5855 [email protected] 79 Reunions 80 Airpower Classics: U-2 Dragon Lady AIR FORCE Magazine (ISSN 0730-6784) February 2014 (Vol. 97, No. 2) is published monthly by the Air Force Association, 1501 Lee Highway, Arlington, VA 22209-1198. Phone (703) 247-5800. Perodical postage paid at Arlington, Va., and additional mailing offi ces. Membership Rate: $45 per year; $110 for three-year membership. Life Membership (nonrefundable): $600 single payment, $630 extended payments. Subscription Rate: $45 per year; $29 per year additional for postage to foreign addresses (except Canada and Mexico, which are $10 per year additional). Regular issues $10 each. USAF Almanac issue $20 each. Change of address requires four weeks’ notice. Please include mailing label. POST- Circulation audited by MASTER: Send changes of address to Air Force Association, 1501 Lee Highway, Arlington, VA 22209-1198. Publisher assumes no responsibility for unsolicited material. Trademark registered by Air Force Association. Copyright 2014 by Air Force Association. Business Publication Audit 2 AIR FORCE Magazine / February 2014 Editorial By Adam J. Hebert, Editor in Chief Compensation Controversies HE recently approved bipartisan added Newton, a retired lieutenant care, commissary expenses, DOD T2014 defense budget deal gives general who once served as USAF’s schools, and family housing. the Air Force a measure of desperately personnel chief. “Congress should be It also does not count the cost of needed predictability and flexibility. just as diligent examining the entire some 800,000 civilian employees. Pon- The aspect of this budget deal that federal employment and benefits sys- der for a moment how Air Force Space got the most attention, however, was tem as it is focused on our men and Command or Air Force Materiel Com- a provision to reduce pensions for women in uniform.” mand would perform their missions working-age military retirees. The plan This requires careful consideration. without their civilian workforces. would reduce cost of living adjustments The MCRMC must be wary of unin- When these other people-related to one percent below inflation for retirees tended consequences and cascading expenses are factored in, personnel until age 62, when they would see their effects on the force. The troops will be costs reach roughly half of the Air COLA restored. watching to see if the nation keeps its Force’s budget. Although this is a lousy provision, it word to its veterans. As Welsh noted in November, “When I may serve a very valuable purpose by entered the Air Force in 1976 we had … bringing DOD’s unsustainable pay and The nation needs to rein in 585,000 [airmen] on Active Duty.” Today benefit trends under a spotlight. Over the USAF has 329,000 airmen on Active past decade, Total Force pay and benefit personnel costs, but it must Duty. As a ratio, personnel costs have expenses increased as the force shrunk. first keep its promises. held steady, but the size of the force “Although we employ fewer people, has shrunk more than 40 percent. The compensation costs continue to climb The all-volunteer force is dependent cost-per-person has soared. at unsustainable rates,” Chief of Staff on fair pay for its troops. In the 1970s Airmen join to serve their nation, and Gen. Mark A. Welsh III said in November. and 1990s they were not adequately “service before self” is an Air Force core “Together we must address the issue compensated, and recruiting, retention, value. But an entitlement culture is built of compensation, or it will consume and the quality of the force suffered. slowly, one benefit at a time. Congress our warfighting spending over the next Since the late 1990s, however, Con- must rein in expenses while keeping few decades. Our airmen and retirees gress has steadily increased pay and its promises. deserve every dollar they earn, [but] benefits for troops and retirees. What Four things are needed. we need to look at slowing pay raises, began as a needed correction became First, the cut to retirees’ COLAs must reforming how housing allowances are an easy way for lawmakers both left be reversed. The $6 billion needs to determined, and restructuring health and right to demonstrate their support come from somewhere else. If COLAs care to ensure world-class care at a for the troops. need to be adjusted, the existing force sustainable cost.” Over the past decade, we have must be grandfathered in, with reduc- The Air Force Association agrees. It is seen large pay raises, survivor benefit tions made for future airmen only. true that airmen cannot be paid enough improvements, Tricare for Life, reducing Second, structural changes are for their hardships, dedication, service, concurrent receipt penalties, extraordi- needed, so airmen should be surveyed and sacrifice. But it also true that the narily slow growth in medical coverage to determine what compensation they nation cannot afford for pay and benefits costs, and other benefit improvements. really desire. A new system must of- to relentlessly trend upward toward infin- Each of these benefits has value, but fer the same value for less money. ity. The best compensated force in the they now meet the need and are cumu- For example, the average American world has no value if it cannot defend latively breaking the bank. lives to 84. Today’s retirement system the nation. Even though today’s force faces re- allows many airmen to work for 20 This winter’s budget deal addressed peated war-zone deployments and an years and be paid for 66 years—but this growing problem in entirely the extraordinarily high operating tempo, only 17 percent ever qualify for this wrong way. The COLA change would recruiting and retention are at histori- retirement package. A vested 401(k)- save $6 billion over 10 years but unac- cally high levels. style system may offer greater value ceptably cut earned benefits. Through their actions, airmen are to future airmen.