Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) and Sen. Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) issued a statement yesterday praising the Air Force action that would keep the Air National Guard’s 118th Airlift Wing flying. (See above.) Alexander said the “decision is the right way to honor and continue [the 118th’s] flying legacy” … and the community will keep 700 jobs.” He credited former Senate Majority leader Bill Frist, Gov. Phil Bredesen, and the other Volunteer State lawmakers for making this happen. According to the statement, the 118th may train “as many as 150 international military students annually, with the first class scheduled to graduate in mid-2008.” The unit also will continue to train active duty airmen, as needed.
Trainees in Basic Military Training and technical school no longer have the option to try alternate PT drills if they fail an initial assessment, according to a policy change the Air Force made in April. The move is part of a larger shift out of the classroom and into hands-on,…