The Icemen of the Eielson AFB, Alaska, and airmen and soldiers at Balad AB, Iraq, held memorials for MSgt. Brad A. Clemmons, who was killed Aug. 21 when his convoy vehicle struck an improvised explosive device on the way to Taji, Iraq. Clemmons, who was an explosive ordnance disposal craftsman from the 354th Civil Engineer Squadron at Eielson, had deployed to Balad, where he served as a weapons intelligence flight team leader. The Air Force posthumously awarded Clemmons a Bronze Star. (Read more here from Eielson and here from Balad.)
As Air Force leaders consider concepts of operations for Collaborative Combat Aircraft, sustainment in the field—and easing that support by using standard parts and limiting variants—should be a key consideration, according to a new study from AFA's Mitchell Institute of Aerospace Studies.