The 80th Fighter Squadron at Kunsan AB, South Korea, last week received the last batch of its Block 40 F-16s. The squadron received its first F-16s under the Common Configuration Implementation Program last fall, enabling the squadron to train about 80 percent of its pilots in the CCIP aircraft, which have avionics upgrades, a modular mission computer, and the joint helmet-mounted cueing system. Lt. Col. Shane Riza, director of operations for the 80th FS, noted, too, that the early arrival of some of the Block 40 F-16s provided time for maintainers to learn the differences from the unit’s Block 30 F-16s, which are slated to go to Eielson AFB, Alaska for the Red Flag-Alaska aggressor force. Riza said of the Kunsan maintainers, “They’ve done a fantastic job keeping those [block 40] jets flying before the support structure and logistics system for block-specific parts caught up to us here at the tip of the spear.” (Kunsan report by SSgt. Araceli Alarcon)
Unit commanders are being told to separate service members who can’t shave their cheeks and chin for medical reasons for more than a year, according to new guidance from Secretary of War Pete Hegseth.
