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Schwartz’s to-do list

Gen. Norton Schwartz marks his first year as Air Force chief of staff this month.

He spent much of year one focused on the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, nuclear safety and the budget.

In year two, he should add these four priorities to his agenda:

• Stop the uniform madness. Schwartz put the heritage coat on hold — now he needs to lay it to rest. Next up: the green boot. Green suede failed. Green polish is no better. Quit monkeying around, allow both the black and tan options, as appropriate for a given job. Then declare a three-year moratorium on uniform changes and focus on real issues.

• Restore integrity to the promotion system. Airmen need to have confidence that the best and most deserving among them will advance. That’s why Schwartz is cracking down on airmen who bump up their buddies’ scores on the physical training test, and it’s why he needs to tackle grade inflation in officer and enlisted performance reports next. Not every airman can be “outstanding.” It’s time to update OPRs and EPRs with an eye toward ensuring honest and fair evaluations that allow the best and brightest to stand apart.

• Extend day-care center hours. The Air Force doesn’t operate on a strict 6:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. schedule — and neither should on-base day care. Closing time on every base should be 7 p.m. New Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James Roy says families are his top priority. This is something where action can underscore the sentiment.

• Take lead on “special needs.” Airmen who have disabled or ill dependents — those with special needs — are marked by an assignment limitation code, “Q,” that bars them from certain jobs. That’s meant to help, ensuring that airmen’s special needs can be met by future assignments. In reality, it can sometimes hurt, by making them ineligible for certain jobs. What Schwartz can do is make clear to airmen that this is one of life’s hard choices: A less-than-plum assignment or a promotion withheld is a small price to pay for getting a special break from the Air Force to help care for a loved one. In the real world, you can’t always have it all.