US military aircraft, including Air Force C-130s and C-17s, have transported more than four million pounds of humanitarian assistance supplies to Pakistan since July 31 in supporting flood relief efforts there, Vice Adm. Michael LeFever, the top US defense representative in Pakistan, said Wednesday. They have also rescued more than 12,800 people from the nation’s flood-ravaged areas, he told reporters during a briefing in the Pentagon. Making a difference in the flow of relief supplies throughout the country has been the presence of a 36-member team from the 621st Contingency Response Wing at JB McGuire, N.J. Operating at Pakistan Air Force Base Chaklala, these airmen have at least doubled the number of supply-laden aircraft that can be handled there each day, according to Air Forces Central officials. (Chaklala report by SSgt. Kali Gradishar) (See also Scott report by MSgt. Scott T. Sturkol)
Trainees in Basic Military Training and technical school no longer have the option to try alternate PT drills if they fail an initial assessment, according to a policy change the Air Force made in April. The move is part of a larger shift out of the classroom and into hands-on,…