Aircraft maintainers with Air Force Reserve Command’s 13th Reconnaissance Squadron at Beale AFB, Calif., earlier this month got the chance, for the first time, to train on an RQ-4 Global Hawk unmanned aerial vehicle during a unit training assembly weekend. The squadron is part of the 940th Air Refueling Wing that is transitioning under BRAC 2005 from operating KC-135 tankers to an associate unit that cooperates with Beale’s active duty 9th Reconnaissance Wing to operate and maintain Global Hawk aircraft. “Having access to the aircraft during UTAs will allow us to get our troops qualified and trained,” said Lt. Col. John Welch, 13th RS commander. He continued, “This is a significant step forward for us.” Welch said eventually he would like to see the squadron have access to two Global Hawks on training weekends. (Beale report by TSgt. Luke Johnson)
The U.S. military is maintaining a beefed-up presence in the Middle East, including fighters and air defense assets, following the U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities June 22 and subsequent retaliation by the Iranians against Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar.
