Members of the 97th Air Mobility Wing at Altus AFB, Okla., claimed top title as “Best Air Mobility Wing” at the Air Mobility Rodeo at JB Lewis-McChord, Wash. The wing operates C-17s and KC-135s as part of Air Education and Training Command’s training mission. This year’s rodeo—a biennial, week-long air mobility competition—pitted nearly 150 teams, including 34 international crews, against one another in categories from loading and logistics to airdrop and air-to-air refueling. “We never know where we’ll be operating next,” said Brig. Gen. Frederick Martin, Air Mobility Command’s director of operations, during the July 29 closing ceremony and awards presentation. He added, “The more partnerships we can build around the globe, the better we can perform our mission.” (Lewis-McChord report by SSgt. J.G. Buzanowski) (For a full list of awards, see this Lewis-McChord release.)
U.S. Southern Command recently announced its first lethal strike on a suspected narco-trafficking vessel in two months, and the first under a newly formed permanent counter-cartel task force. The U.S. is also reportedly planning to transfer MQ-9 drones to Colombia to bolster its counter-cartel efforts.