The Air Force prepositioned 
forces and had units on alert around the country in preparation for Hurricane Rita. USAF forces that were shifted early to be closer to the site of potential action included: a director of mobility forces, contingency response group, and medical planning team deployed to Austin, Tex.; and two 25-bed expeditionary medical units positioned at Kelly AFB, Tex., and Eglin AFB, Fla. Among USAF elements on call were: Air Force Space Command helicopters at F.E. Warren AFB, Wyo., Malmstrom AFB, Mont., and Minot AFB, N.D.; 12 aircrews and C-130s at Little Rock AFB, Ark.; Hurricane Hunters from the 403rd Airlift Wing, Keesler AFB, Miss.; two CRGs on alert at McGuire AFB, N.J. and Travis AFB, Calif.; various communications personnel; and six BEAR—basic expeditionary airfield resource packages—on standby at Holloman AFB, N.M. Airmen at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio started early to set up beds for evacuees.
The Department of the Air Force has identified 50 programs that will make up the core of its contribution to the Pentagon’s joint all-domain command and control effort, branding them part of the “DAF Battle Network,” according to newly-released budget documents. The DAF Battle Network programs span multiple offices and agencies…