After Hurricane Katrina devastated Keesler AFB, Miss., last summer, the base suspended its normal training mission but joined in humanitarian operations, even as it began tackling hurricane damage at the base. Keesler officials say that, as of mid-December, base efforts amounted to 291 missions involving 10 or more personnel. The base delivered 122,736 meals ready-to-ear, 187,660 pounds of food and clothing, 239,227 gallons of water, clocking more than 20,000 manhours. According to TSgt. Julie Sargent, NCO in charge of Keesler’s humanitarian relief operations office, the mission number could be “three times” greater.
U.S. Southern Command recently announced its first lethal strike on a suspected narco-trafficking vessel in two months, and the first under a newly formed permanent counter-cartel task force. The U.S. is also reportedly planning to transfer MQ-9 drones to Colombia to bolster its counter-cartel efforts.