Four KC-135s and airmen from the Arizona Air National Guard’s 161st Air Refueling Wing on May 31 returned from a deployment to Andersen AFB, Guam. The unit, based at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, spent three weeks supporting Pacific operations, refueling aircraft stationed and deployed to the area, according to a 161st ARW release. “We were supporting bomber aircraft in the region, which in turn support strategic deterrence,” 197th Air Refueling Squadron Commander Lt. Col. Dean Owen said in the release.
The Air Force is requesting about $141 million for initial enlistment bonuses in its fiscal 2026 budget, while Space Force wants $13 million.
