Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan continues to serve as the focal point for much of the US earthquake-relief aid to Pakistan. Operation Enduring Freedom’s Combined Joint Task Force 76 has orchestrated relief efforts, including the first remote airdrop on Oct. 14. Airmen and soldiers at Bagram worked through the night to finish loading 46,000 pounds of supplies in 43 bundles aboard a USAF C-130, which flew from Bagram to Islamabad, Pakistan. There, US Army helicopters dispersed the bundles, delivering about 20,000 pounds by parachute airdrop to remote areas.
Aircraft readiness will suffer if Congress does not approve some $1.5 billion worth of spare parts the Air Force requested in its annual Unfunded Priorities List, sent to Capitol Hill last week, Chief of Staff Gen. David W. Allvin said.