The US and Japan are close to reaching an agreement about returning airspace over Yokota Air Base back to Japanese control, according to Associated Press news service. Remember that last spring US officials called such speculation “premature.” Now it would appear the move to ease operations for commercial airlines operating in Japan is set to return an unspecified amount of airspace that would provide more direct routes to civilian airports. The transfer date, reports AP, likely would happen by September 2008.
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.