Ogden Completes Hogs Early: The Ogden Air Logistics Center, Hill AFB, Utah, ramped up its work process to get three A-10 Warthogs through a service life extension program early to meet the deployment schedule of the 354th Fighter Wing, Eielson AFB, Alaska. Without that extra effort, Eielson faced having to borrow A-10s from another unit to meet its deployment commitment. Ogden managed to move one A-10 through a “lean” process, shaving one month off normal SLEP time, and worked overtime to complete the other two, which were “thick-skin” center wing aircraft and required a different inspection process and, subsequently, more repairs, said ALC officials. It worked. The center turned over the final two well ahead of time.
Secretary of Defense Austin Lloyd III met with his counterparts from Australia, Japan and the Philippines to discuss bolstering defense ties on May 2. The discussion included plans for joint F-35 exercises with Japan and Australia in the coming years.