The Air Force has shifted training of airfield operations officers to the Air National Guard, with the graduation of the last active duty-run class Oct. 22 at Altus AFB, Okla., reports Capt. Allen Alfred. Over the 11 years Altus ran the 40-week program, it graduated 170 officers, all trained by enlisted air traffic controllers and airfield management technicians. The officers then underwent 18 months of upgrade training on the job. The Air Guard will train new airfield ops officers under a new two-year program, producing fully qualified officers, ready for deployment.
Earlier this spring, the 388th Fighter Wing proved just 12 Airmen can operate an F-35 contingency location, refueling and rearming the fighters at spots across Georgia and South Carolina. The demonstration, part of exercise Agile Flag 23-1, marks yet another proof of concept for the Air Force’s plan to send…