Missions:
(in no particular order)
Strategic delivery of WMDs (shared with the Navy); ICBMs; Long range bombers (stealthy or not).
Conventional bombing (stealthy or not, the more accurate, the better because it takes fewer sorties if you hit what you target), including UAVs.
Establish and maintain air superiority. (fighters, missiles, perhaps UAVs too)
Close Air Support for ground troops. (A-10, for one, best suited to the specific task).
Air surveillance (AWACs) and reconnaissance, also including UAVs (the latter overlaps with other agencies).
Refueling platforms.
Transport.
Maintenance and Logistical support for the equipment and facilities to carry out the above missions, including aircraft.
Train and take care of qualified people on a merit based system.
The question arises of what is needed to accomplish these tasks, and which tasks are absolutely necessary. The fewer conflicts we are directly involved in, the more can be spent on developing and deploying (new) equipment, because the logistics and maintenance expenses go down if the airframes aren't being worn out in a more intense combat mission environment and munitions aren't being expended at the same rate.
Social experimentation is not the mission of the Armed Forces, beyond what will make carrying out their primary missions better. Every dime wasted on this is another target that may not get hit.
Just a few thoughts, feel free to kick them around.
