A team from Travis AFB, Calif., has just won a fourth consecutive Scott World Firefighter Combat Challenge. The team’s time was 4 minutes, 37.89 seconds. SSgt. Matt McGovern reports that the nine-year team captain for Travis, civilian Mike Melton, said they were the “underdogs” in this competition because a top competitor broke his hand and they lost key team member Harry Meyers. Firefighters from around the world came to a more difficult competition this year—they had to wear their full gear while completing five tasks, from climbing a five-story tower to rescuing a 175-pound “victim.”
The new defense reconciliation bill includes $7.2 billion for Air Force and Navy aviation accounts, almost half of which will buy more F-15EXs. While electronic warfare, drones, connectivity and airlift all get attention, the F-35 was conspicuously absent from the package, with no explanation given.