Installing C-17 Regularity:
Air Mobility Command has changed its modus operandi for C-17 operations in Southwest Asia—placing two squadrons in the theater for an entire 120-day air expeditionary force rotation. AMC leaders found that the old method of sending C-17 squadrons in for about 15 days of flying then sending them home created an unnecessarily high operations tempo for the air and ground crews. The new approach, which started last month, slows the tempo and provides continuity. Lt. Col. Lenney Richoux, 816th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron commander, said now he can organize “fliers into hard crews”—two pilots and one loadmaster that always fly together.
While the Space Force is still making long-term plans to establish high-fidelity live and virtual test and training ranges in the coming years, officials say they're also working with operators to identify near-term gaps and quickly field capabilities to address them.
