For the first time since the Kosovo crisis, McGuire AFB, N.J., is the first stopping point on US soil for Americans evacuees—the latest crop from Lebanon via Cyprus and Ramstein AB, Germany. According to the Newark Star-Ledger, more than 1,000 evacuees from across the US are expected at McGuire by Tuesday. Air Force officials report that they enlisted C-17s from Charleston AFB, S.C. and McChord AFB, Wash., as well as McGuire to ferry Americans from Ramstein. “The good thing about this is once the places get cycling, we can just keep them going indefinitely,” Col. Bill Spacy, vice commander of the 305th Air Mobility Wing at McGuire told the Star-Ledger.
Airmen and Guardians in the Active and Reserve component, as well as civilian employees, in “mission critical and high-risk populations” are now required to receive influenza vaccinations annually to “preserve force readiness,” according to a recent Department of the Air Force memo.