Gen. Mark Welsh retirement ceremony, June 24, 2016
Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark A. Welsh III gathers his emotions during his retirement ceremony at Joint Base Andrews, Md., June 24, 2016. Welsh has served as the 20th chief of staff since 2012. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Tech. Sgt. Joshua L. DeMotts)
U.S Marine Corps 1st Lt. Matthew Welsh speaks about his father, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark A. Welsh III, during his retirement ceremony at Joint Base Andrews, Md., June 24, 2016. Welsh has served as the 20th chief of staff since 2012. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Andy Morataya)
Gen. Mark A. Welsh III, Chief of Staff of the Air Force, laughs as his son, Marine 1st. Lt. Matthew Welsh tells stories about the Welsh family during remarks at his retirement ceremony at Joint Base Andrews in , MD, on Friday, June 24, 2016. (Alan Lessig/Staff)Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark A. Welsh III is retired by his son, U.S. Marine Corps 1st Lt. Matthew Welsh after 40 years of service in a ceremony at Joint Base Andrews, Md., June 24, 2016. Welsh has served as the 20th chief of staff since 2012. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Tech. Sgt. Joshua L. DeMotts)
Gen. Mark Welsh salutes Marine Gen. Joseph Dunford after medal presentation during his retirement ceremony at Joint Base Andrews in , MD, on Friday, June 24, 2016. (Alan Lessig/Staff)Secretary of Defense Ash Carter speaks during retirement ceremony for Gen. Mark A. Welsh III, Chief of Staff of the Air Force at Joint Base Andrews in , MD, on Friday, June 24, 2016. (Alan Lessig/Staff)Gen. Mark A. Welsh III, Chief of Staff of the Air Force, gives Sec. of the Air Force Deborah Lee James a hug during his retirement ceremony at Joint Base Andrews in , MD, on Friday, June 24, 2016. (Alan Lessig/Staff)Gen. Mark A. Welsh shares a special moment with his mother after his retirement ceremony from the Air Force at Joint Base Andrews in , MD, on Friday, June 24, 2016. (Alan Lessig/Staff)during retirement ceremony for Gen. Mark A. Welsh III, Chief of Staff of the Air Force at Joint Base Andrews in , MD, on Friday, June 24, 2016. (Alan Lessig/Staff)Advancement of the Colors during retirement ceremony for Gen. Mark A. Welsh III, Chief of Staff of the Air Force at Joint Base Andrews in , MD, on Friday, June 24, 2016. (Alan Lessig/Staff)Air Force Honor guard pass in review during retirement ceremony for Gen. Mark A. Welsh III, Chief of Staff of the Air Force at Joint Base Andrews in , MD, on Friday, June 24, 2016. (Alan Lessig/Staff)
Veterans visited congressional offices this week to deliver messages of concern over recent Pentagon moves targeting the roles of women in the military.
The spending plan for Veterans Affairs next year is up significantly from current levels but is about $1 billion less than what the White House wanted.
