More than 20 airmen from the Alaska Air National Guard’s 168th Air Refueling Squadron at Elmendorf Air Force Base nearly missed their opportunity to participate in Cope Tiger 06 because of problems with their boom. Arriving late to the multinational exercise flown out of Korat RAFB, Thailand, and getting shut out on their first day by weather, they then fell prey once again to the “finicky boom,” reports USAF journalist MSgt. Adam Johnston. They replaced the boom’s fuel nozzle; it worked. The Guardsmen called the experience “embarrassing” especially as the only ANG unit at Cope Tiger. Boomer MSgt. Brett Ayres said, “It’s great to be back in business.”
The Space Development Agency says it’s on track to issue its next batch of missile warning and tracking satellite contracts this month after those awards were delayed by the Pentagon’s decision to divert funds from the agency to pay troops during this fall’s prolonged government shutdown.
