But Tricare must still be made more user friendly, the service's top civilian official said. On equipment, officials have worked to fix the spare parts problem. They still must make progress on modernization. Even in normal circumstances Air Force personnel are stretched thin, the Secretary admitted. Ninety days overseas in a year is considered a routine load, yet it translates into being away from home one day in four for contingency operations-not to mention travel for training.
Surveys do show that many in the service relish the chance to be part of real-world operations.
Peters said he was surprised by the reaction to the Stop-Loss order he signed at the beginning of Allied Force. He thought that after it was lifted there would be a stampede out of the service. Instead the opposite occurred. Maybe half of the people who could pull their retirement papers have pulled their papers, said the Secretary. That is quite a remarkable event.