Daily Report

March 14, 2012

Iran Making Gains in Latin America

Iran continues to court countries within US Southern Command’s area of responsibility in an effort to “circumvent international sanctions,” SOUTHCOM Commander Gen. Douglas Fraser told members of the Senate Armed Services Committee on Tuesday. Iran has successfully established “modest economic,...

China Spreading its Military Influence into the Americas

China is expanding its military engagement in Latin America, according to Gen. Douglas Fraser, head of US Southern Command. Chinese arms sales to militaries in the region “have more than quadrupled in the past five years,” he told the Senate...

Whiteman Wing Passes Nuclear Inspection

The 509th Bomb Wing at Whiteman AFB, Mo., successfully completed a nine-day nuclear surety inspection, announced wing officials. Air Force Global Strike Command inspectors thoroughly evaluated the wing’s ability to carry out its nuclear mission with its B-2 stealth bombers....

First Flight

Air Forces Africa launched the inaugural Africa Partnership Flight, bringing several air forces from East Africa together for military-to-military exchange at Accra, Ghana. “At the end, if we do nothing more than strengthen relationships, old and new, that’s value added,”...

NORTHCOM Boss Outlines Priorities

Army Gen. Charles Jacoby, commander of the North American Aerospace Defense Command and head of US Northern Command, outlined his top four priorities to the Senate Armed Services Community on Tuesday. They are: expand and strengthen trusted partnerships; gain and maintain all-domain situational awareness; advocate and develop capabilities to outpace threats; and take care of people. "Our commands' missions are not only complementary, they are also inseparable, as the missions of aerospace warning and control, maritime warning, homeland defense, and civil support are more aligned than ever," stated Jacoby. "To ensure that NORTHCOM and NORAD are strong and ready, we balance the day-to-day missions and operational concerns of the two commands with planning and preparing for an uncertain future." (Jacoby's written testimony)

Extreme Rescue, California Style

California Air National Guard pararescuemen assigned to the 129th Rescue Wing jumped from an MC-130P with an inflatable boat to reach injured fishermen on a Chinese vessel 700 miles off the coast of Acapulco, Mexico. Once aboard the ship during...

History on Canvas Wings

Volunteers at Whiteman AFB, Mo., are working to restore one of the first aircraft assigned to the base: a World War II-era Waco CG-4A troop-carrying glider. According to Whiteman officials, the Missouri installation was established in 1942 as Sedalia Glider...