Officials at Travis AFB, Calif., opened the Air Force’s first facility dedicated to training KC-10 Extender aircrew and cargo handlers to load and handle freight on the aircraft. The new KC-10 Cargo Load Training Facility includes an outdoor pallet-loading dock, interior bay, and two academic classrooms. “A major benefit of having a dedicated facility like this one is that not only can boom operators train on how to load cargo, but security forces, the fire department, and aerial port can perform egress and cargo-load training here, too,” said TSgt. James Cain, 60th Operations Support Squadron enlisted boom-training supervisor. Instead of pulling active aircraft from flying and maintenance scheduled every month, using the in-house facility frees aircraft for operational missions while saving fuel. Travis officials inaugurated the building for operation on Dec. 13. (Travis report by SSgt. Patrick Harrower)
As the Air Force readied for its June 21-22 strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities, the service was also putting its Agile Combat Employment strategy into action, dispersing combat aircraft and Airmen from Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar in preparation for a possible Iranian retaliatory attack. Some defense experts say…
