The airmen with the 64th Expeditionary Helicopter Maintenance Unit at Balad AB, Iraq, are key to keeping the fleet of Air Force Special Operations Command HH-60G Pave Low helicopters fit for their Combat Search and Rescue mission. The unit has some 30 airmen who are constantly maintaining and repairing the well-worn birds. Despite the high mission tempo, Air Force officials say, launching on time hasn’t been a problem so far. “Every bird has made its mission,” said TSgt. Kevin Pizzino, the unit expediter.
Members of the House Armed Services Committee say the AIM-260 Joint Advanced Tactical Missile program has been set back three months due to the ongoing government shutdown. The comment is noteworthy because the JATM's status has been kept tightly under wraps.
