The elite airmen known as Ravens specially trained to protect the crews and aircraft of Air Mobility Command as they fly to hot spots around the world were the subject of an article by James Scott of The Post and Courier. Scott talked with some of the 34 Ravens based at Charleston AFB, S.C., learning that the elite security forces airmen over the 10 years of the program have yet to fire a weapon against a potential threat. Their preferred response, they say, is the diplomacy they learn along with hand-to-hand combat and varied weapons training. As we’ve reported, they often serve as guards for more than multimillion-dollar aircraft and USAF aircrews.
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.