In its first week, the Operation Arctic Care team treated some 1,100 medical patients and 900 dental patients, produced nearly 600 prescription eyeglasses, and vaccinated more than 550 dogs. Arctic Care is an annual joint US military medical readiness and logistics training exercise that provides humanitarian assistance and medical care to US citizens in isolated areas of Alaska. It’s in its 16th year, according to an Arctic Sounder report, which noted that some 250 US military medical personnel participated in this year’s operation, which ended April 24. The Army is slated to lead the effort in 2011, followed by the Air National Guard in 2012. (Also see OAC reports from Kotzebue, Alaska, by Maj. Cary McPartlin April 26; TSgt. Melissa Chatham April 22; SSgt. Paul Croxon April 19; Croxon April 14)
Pentagon officials overseeing homeland counter-drone strategy told lawmakers that even with preliminary moves to bolster U.S. base defenses, the military still lacks the capability to comprehensively identify, track, and engage hostile drones like those that breached the airspace of Langley Air Force Base in Virginia for 17 days in December…