The US Provincial Reconstruction Team led by Air Force Lt. Col. Gordon Phillips in the Nangahar province of Afghanistan has made “significant progress” in its first four months on the job. Army Sgt. Sara Wood reports that the PRT has completed 11 projects worth about $800,000, and perhaps the key accomplishment is completion of a month-long effort to finalize a provincial development plan. On the PRT’s agenda are 33 projects, including building roads to link all 22 districts in the province to the main route through the region.
The Air Force is planning to spend $2.19 billion over the next five years to acquire new C-37 jets for transporting military and civilian leaders. That’s on top of another $1.17 billion in projected funding for the VC-25B “Air Force One” replacement.