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 use of a military counter-drone laser on the southwest border this week—which prompted the Federal Aviation Administration to abruptly close the airspace over El Paso, Texas—will be a “case study” on the complex web of authorities needed to employ such weapons near civilian areas and the consequences of agencies…
