Daily Report

June 6, 2011

Needed: Infrastructure to Match Mission Responsibilities

US Strategic Command occupies “a unique operational place” in the nation’s defense and it needs a modern command and control complex that is capable of handling the command’s demanding mission set, said Gen. Robert Kehler, STRATCOM boss. “The facilities that...

Wilson Takes Helm of 8th Air Force

Brig. Gen. Stephen Wilson assumed command of 8th Air Force at Barksdale AFB, La., the organization under Air Force Global Strike Command that controls the nation’s nuclear-capable B-2 and B-52 bombers. He succeeded Maj. Gen. Floyd Carpenter, who led 8th...

New Ramp Opens at Manas

A C-17 bringing US troops out of Afghanistan last week was the first to use the new ramp at the Transit Center at Manas, Kyrgyzstan. Designated “Papa Ramp,” the new addition adds four parking spots for C-17s or MD-11 commercial...

More C-130 Avionics Kits Ordered

The Air Force has let a $61 million contract to Boeing for two C-130 avionics upgrade kits, along with two aircrew training system devices, announced the company. This work is part of the C-130 Avionics Modernization Program’s low-rate initial production...

Airman Separated under DADT

The Air Force discharged an airman April 29 under the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy. This was the first time that the Defense Department let go of a service member since Defense Secretary Robert Gates changed the rules last October,...

A Heartfelt Thank You

Japan’s Foreign Affairs Minister Takeaki Matsumoto thanked airmen from the 353rd Special Operation Group at Kadena AB, Japan, and all other US military personnel stationed on Okinawa for their role in helping Japan recover from the devastating earthquake and tsunami...

McPeak Elected Chair of Monuments Commission

Retired Air Force Gen. Merrill McPeak, 14th Chief of Staff, last week was elected chairman of the American Battle Monuments Commission, the federal agency charged with overseeing the commemorative sites honoring members of the US military. McPeak is the 10th...

One-Stop Shooting Spot

Airmen assigned to Kadena AB, Japan, are now able to use the base’s newly refurbished combat arms firing range. Its opening means that Kadena airmen no longer have to transfer from the 18th Security Force Squadron’s classroom on base to...

Best in Show

The new $1.6 million military working dog facility at Luke AFB, Ariz., is the first Defense Department kennel built with environmentally friendly features and energy efficiency in mind. “It’s a standard to which all other kennels should be built in...

Duluth Gets F-16 for Display

A retired F-16 fighter will soon grace the base entrance of the Minnesota Air National Guard’s 148th Fighter Wing in Duluth. The static display is made possible through the donations of local businesses and community groups, reports Duluth’s WDIO TV...