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Here's a wild idea: Both TAC and SAC sucked. SAC because it was a "read a step, do a step, get a banana" mentality designed specifically for going toe to toe with Ivan and not really able to do anything else well. Until B-52s were converted to the iron bomb mission for Southeast Asia for the tactical guys. I'd submit that the BUFFS did the trucking bombs mission really well (save for their same way, same day tactics courtesy SAC) but that the tactical guys didn't run the war all that well and they were the ones in charge. TAC, for much of its existance, didn't really have a pot to piss in and took the scraps of budget left over from SAC. It also had it's own nuclear mission that consumed much of its time and attention to the detriment of air-to-air and air-to-ground with little bombs. The results were paid in blood in Vietnam until those lessons were learned again. ACC (TAC ate SAC) was a good compromise unless you were a SAC crewdog (bomber, tanker, or missiles) in which case you were auto-hosed just because you were on the losing team. Not cool. DESERT STORM was a great showcase for the USAF showing it had it's sh1t together. Fighters and bombers played well together doing the jobs best suited for each. I don't think this is nearly the same USAF as then. It's a lot smaller, it's a lot more worn out, but a lot more combat experienced (in COIN and CAS, not so much against a contemporary, capable foe). How about a command where if you can make things go "boom," you're in regardless of the size of the explosion? If you directly support things that go "boom," you are in. If you haul sh1t, you are in. If you put stuff together, you are in. If you cook chow or patrol the flight line, you are in. If you do a good job at your job, you move up. If you don't, you are shown the door. Separate MAJCOMS, for the most part, are jobs for the generals. Use the NAFs, maybe, if a intermediate command between the COCOMS and Air Staff is required. A lot more bang could be had with the same bucks used. Crazy, I know. But gosh darn it, it just might work. C'mon kids, let's dance...

False. Anyone just getting an assignment now knew before they started UPT that UAVs were a possibility. If that possibility was/is unacceptable to them they shouldn't have started training. This kind of thing happened a few times at VN... Hitme usually set them and the crowd straight.