Firefighters at Eglin AFB, Fla., have been testing a new chemical protective suit that would be worn as an undergarment not an overgarment, as is the case now. The new kit would be lighter and more flexible and features a mesh-like design that makes it cooler, said officials. The 16 firefighters in the test went through standard firefighting exercises, including dragging heavy hoses, a 150-pound “victim,” and consecutive trips up and down a ladder.
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.