In recent weeks, the Air Force has announced some exciting programs available for line officers/senior captains. Not enough to make me wish I was back, but very cool opportunities nonetheless.

First is the opportunity to work as a defense attache:

Apply now to work in U.S. embassies overseas

Want to trade your CONUS base assignment for something a little more exotic? The Air Force has the job for you.

The Air Force Personnel Center announced Wednesday that the Air Force is accepting applications until Dec. 5 from senior captains, majors and lieutenant colonels to fill various defense attaché positions. Officers selected for attaché duty will begin training for advertised positions in January 2010.

Air Force Times

And I love that they're allowing non-rated officers (and potentially enlisted personnel) fly UAVs:

Air Force creates new pilot programs for drones
By LOLITA C. BALDOR – Oct 23, 2008
WASHINGTON (AP) — Scrambling to meet commanders' insatiable demands for unmanned aircraft, the Air Force is launching two new training programs, including an experimental one that would churn out up to 1,100 desperately needed pilots to fly the drones over Iraq and Afghanistan.

As many as 700 Air Force personnel have expressed some interest in the test program, which will create a new brand of pilot for the drones, which are flown by remote control from a base in Nevada. That new drone operator will learn the basics of flying a small manned plane, but will not go through the longer, more rigorous training that their fighter jet brethren receive.
AP

In some bothersome news, guess who gets hurt by the latest shenanigans at Kirtland...leadership? No.

The folks at the Shandiin Child Development Center? Well, there bottom line will be hurt.

But the true victims are the hardworking men and women trying to make ends meet who'll no longer be able to conveniently drop their kids off in the morning en route to work or PT. No, now it looks like now they'll have to spend time searching out alternate, and most likely less convenient, daycare options. Talk about life being unfair. Thanks to an irresponsible few, the hardworking men and women of Kirtland and Sandia will now have to pay (that's Chaminade alum Dick Knipfing at the anchor chair):

Childcare center on base may close
Center must find new government sponsor by Nov. 20
Last Edited: Wednesday, 12 Nov 2008, 10:58 AM MST
Reporter: Maria Medina
Web Producer: Todd Dukart
KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. (KRQE) - A childcare center on Kirtland Air Force Base in Albuquerque may close at the beginning of the year unless a government sponsor steps in soon.

The Shandiin Development Center's previous sponsor pulled out after base security said marijuana and drug paraphernalia were found in the cars of three workers last month. KRQE

Finally, while I typically avoid nuke news for a variety of reasons, one line I read from an Albuquerque Journal article caught my eye as this week's unfortunate metaphor.

“I’m going to be the Wal-Mart for all nuclear weapons for the United States Air Force,” (Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center Commander Brig. Gen Everett)Thomas said.

Unfortunately, I'd say he isn't far off the mark, considering some recent headlines...

5th Bomb Wing flunks nuclear inspection
Malmstrom missile wing fails nuke inspection
Malmstrom AFB officer charged with sexual assault

Hopefully Gen. Thomas is something of a turnaround specialist, because he's got his work cut out for him: