According to Brig. Gen. Stephen L. Hoog, head of USAF’s Air and Space Expeditionary Center, the Air Force experiment of moving airmen into Southwest Asia by “aggregated flight processes” using chartered commercial flights has taken the guesswork out of deployments. Now, he said, it is time to tackle the “single ticket program” for airmen who are leaving the region. Beyond making such travel more predictable, the Air Force expects to “drastically” cut down on travel time. Hoog said he expects growing pains, but those lessons learned should improve the program in the long run.
Loved Ones Mourn 6 Airmen Killed in KC-135 Crash
March 16, 2026
Tributes to the six crew members that died in the KC-135 Stratotanker crash in Iraq have flooded social media since the Pentagon released their identities March 14. They were the first Airmen to die while supporting Operation Epic Fury against Iran.