Air Force pararescue jumpers, or PJs, set themselves some difficult tasks as part of Northern Edge 2006, according to Marine Corps journalist Lance Cpl, Ethan Hoaldridge. Alaska’s climate and terrain provided an excellent training opportunity for PJs visiting from the 31st Rescue Squadron of Kadena AB, Japan. Some of the Alaskan combat search and rescue crews got to play “victims” in scenarios such as one that had PJs jumping from a C-130 into the frigid Kachemak Bay to rescue three victims.
In the wake of a major Chinese military shakeup, the head of U.S. Space Command warned of China’s “breathtakingly fast” advances in space during visits to Japan and South Korea. Gen. Stephen N. Whiting’s trip to the Indo-Pacific is his first overseas visit since taking command of SPACECOM in January.