The Air Force's lethality depends on the professionalism of airmen and the capability of their equipment, said Air Force Gen. John D. Lamontagne, Air Force vice chief of staff, who testified yesterday at a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on joint force readiness in Washington.
"Airmen are our most precious resource. The active-duty, Air National Guard, reserve and civilian workforce are why the United States Air Force is effective at a moment's notice," Lamontagne said.
The Air Force updated its fitness policy to push airmen to new levels and ensure they are ready to stand shoulder to shoulder with its joint partners on the toughest battlefields, the general said.
The service is improving airmen's quality of life by updating dormitories and child development care centers.
"We strive to make the Air Force an unmatched place to serve," Lamontagne said, adding that recruiting goals are being met and retention numbers are strong.
The Air Force is increasing aircraft availability, which allows aviators to get the repetitions they need to build competence. The service is also recapitalizing its ground-based strategic deterrent, fighter, bomber and tanker aircraft, as well as the command-and-control architectures that bring them together, the general said.
At the tactical level, airmen are practicing agile combat employment and preparing to fight in exercises like Bamboo Eagle. Last summer, the Air Force deployed more than 400 aircraft and 15,000 personnel across 50 locations in the Pacific region, Lamontagne said.
Space Force Gen. Shawn N. Bratton, vice chief of space operations, said his service, along with commercial partners, executed 170 launches this year.
A new radar has upgraded optical surveillance systems to track adversarial activity on orbit better, he said, noting that additional systems will increase domain awareness.
Regarding readiness, Bratton said guardians must be ready at any time for any threat across the entire spectrum of conflict. They participated in a variety of exercises designed to ensure space superiority, and officer training courses now include training in space, cyber, intelligence and acquisitions.
"We will need to double in size in the coming years to meet identified operational needs, as well as significantly increase our training facilities. Even as we prepare for current warfighting challenges, we are aggressively looking ahead at capability requirements for the future force," he said.