Air Education and Training Command is bringing together the enlisted ground schools from seven aircrew specialties to form a mega Career Enlisted Aircrew Center of Excellence at Lackland AFB, Tex. AETC plans to move the first school—ground training for enlisted airborne battle managers—in time to start its first class at Lackland on April 11. In all, Lackland will gain about 40 instructors. Officials told the Lackland Talespinner that they expect the consolidation to streamline training, since each includes some common material, and reduce travel expenses.
U.S. Southern Command recently announced its first lethal strike on a suspected narco-trafficking vessel in two months, and the first under a newly formed permanent counter-cartel task force. The U.S. is also reportedly planning to transfer MQ-9 drones to Colombia to bolster its counter-cartel efforts.