Breaking Records in the C-17: 
Airmen who operate the C-17 out of Manas AB, Kyrgyzstan, typically put in 18-hour days, often flying back and forth to Afghanistan multiple times. The new airlifter and its air and ground crews are in high demand. USAF journalist SSgt. Lara Gale, reports that the C-17 force at Manas broke all previous records in February and may well break that one this month. The C-17 fleet, as a whole, is slated to bust one million hours this month.
Congress is making moves to end the longest government shutdown in U.S. history, but lawmakers have only a few days left to clear the procedural hurdles necessary to ensure troops get paid Nov. 14. The issue is particularly pressing for tens of thousands of uniformed personnel in the Air National…
