The 41st Airlift Squadron Blackcats on Feb. 16 became the first unit to officially “leave” Pope AFB, N.C., marking in a special ceremony the realignment of the 41st AS from Pope to Little Rock AFB, Ark. The “new” 41st will stand up on April 5 at Little Rock, where it will become USAF’s first active duty C-130J squadron. The unit’s E model Hercules are on their way to the boneyard. The 41st AS, one of the service’s oldest squadrons, has operated from Pope for 36 years. Under direction of BRAC 2005, USAF will turn Pope over to the Army.
Navy Adm. Samuel J. Paparo Jr. assumed leadership of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, succeeding Navy Adm. John Aquilino at a change of command ceremony, urging action amid China's “increasing intrusive and expansionist claims,” on May 3