Some 900 
soldiers of the Army’s 82nd Airborne Division working out of the New Orleans airport now have the cool comfort of an Air Force tent city, courtesy of the 4th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron. One soldier said it will be the first time in 22 years of service, he has slept in a tent with air conditioning. Many of the soldiers banded together with the airmen to get the tents set up. Said one soldier, “I’ve never really hung out with Air Force people before.” Welcome to the Blue.
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.