The Warner Robins Air Logistics Center at Robins AFB, Ga., now owns the mission of C-130J sustainment, taking the task over from the product team at Aeronautical Systems Center, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio. ASC had contracted for sustainment of the new airlifters, while the WRALC—over a period of three years—developed a partnership with Lockheed Martin, Rolls Royce, and Dowty Propellers to work with the ALC on maintaining the new Hercules airlifters. According to the Robins Rev-Up, ALC officials call the action a major milestone for the C-130J program. By 2011, officials expect to have C-130J repair capabilities activated at all three of the Air Force’s ALCs. (The other two are Ogden ALC, Hill AFB, Utah, and Oklahoma City ALC, Tinker AFB, Okla.)
Amid a high-profile recruiting crisis, Air Force leaders and experts have increasingly noted the challenging long-term trends the service will face in enticing young Americans to sign up—decreasing eligibility to serve, less propensity to do so, and less familiarity with the military. But while those same leaders say there’s no “silver…