Blue for Green—Training With the Army: Known as Iraqi Assistance Group Foxtrot, some 59 airmen recently received training with the Army at Ft. Hood, Tex., to prepare themselves to help the Iraqi Army develop its organizational and base infrastructure—the type of work traditionally handled by the Army. Before going to Iraq, the airmen must complete 299 individual combat tasks, and, while en route, they get additional weapons and cultural training.
The F-35 Joint Program Office has officially announced plans to issue multiple sole-source contracts to Pratt & Whitney to upgrade the fighter’s F135 engine—a widely expected move after Pentagon officials indicated they would do so earlier this year instead of developing an entirely new engine.