Air Mobility Command will hold its new, highest-level training exercise in August 2017. It’s planned to be a large-scale, international, scenario-driven event that aims to become the Red Flag for mobility crews. AMC decided to redesign its main training event to be a scenario where mobility crews are the focus of a high level exercise, as opposed to supporting other commands in their exercises. AMC has begun inviting other countries and other services to take part in the exercise, which like the Air Mobility Rodeo will be held at JB Lewis-McChord, Wash., AMC Commander Gen. Carlton Everhart said at AWS16. The exercise will be “full spectrum,” including air refueling, strategic airlift, tactical airlift, and aeromedical evacuation, Everhart said. There isn’t a name for the exercise yet, though Everhart said he’s “really, really close.” AMC canceled the rodeo event in 2013 because of budget cuts, and then scrapped the 2015 iteration because of costs and a high operations tempo.
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…