The Kentucky Air National Guard now has 56 airmen trained for the Air Guard’s first contingency response group, the 123rd CRG at Louisville. Kentucky declared its intent last year to create a CRG, units designed to establish bare base operations anywhere in the world, and plans to formally activate the 123rd in April. The first 56 of the 115-strong unit spent 22 days at Ft. Dix, home to the Air Force Expeditionary Center, completing training in air base assessment, initial airfield operations, force protection, and convoy and urban operations, among other skills. (Report by TSgt. Scott Sturkol)
The Air Force displayed all the firepower it has amassed on Okinawa in an unusually diverse show of force this week. IIn a May 6 “Elephant Walk,” Kadena Air Base showcased 24 F-35A Lightning II stealth fighters, eight F-15E Strike Eagles; two U.S. Army Patriot anti-missile batteries near the runway; and…