Ready, One Assault Runway:

The Mississippi Air National Guard’s 172nd Airlift Wing has taken possession of a new C-17 airlifter assault runway built at Camp Shelby Joint Forces Training Center, a state-owned facility. The 172nd plans to use the runway to train C-17 crews for short field operations and for rapid deployment training with ground forces. The Sun Herald reports that the runway cost more than $10 million and took a year to complete. It is leased on a “no-cost basis” to the 172nd AW. The grand opening drew ANG Director, Lt. Gen. Craig McKinley, and Rep. Gene Taylor (D-Miss.) and Rep. Charles Pickering (R-Miss.), among other officials.