There are 36 F-22s at Langley AFB, Va., already, with two more joining the 1st Fighter Wing every month. The wing will be fully equipped in 2007, after which Elmendorf AFB, Alaska will start getting its own Raptors. Lt. Col. Dirk Smith, commander of the 94th Fighter Squadron, confirmed that Elmendorf-bound Raptors, their pilots, and maintainers are starting out at Langley, where, over a few months, they learn how to run an operational F-22 unit, then will move on to Alaska. Smith said that he expects to see the same process repeated for Holloman AFB, N.M. and Hickam AFB, Hawaii, which are the next two bases to receive F-22s.
Airmen and Guardians in the Active and Reserve component, as well as civilian employees, in “mission critical and high-risk populations” are now required to receive influenza vaccinations annually to “preserve force readiness,” according to a recent Department of the Air Force memo.