Army Gen. Vincent Brooks, commander of US Army Pacific, will soon be nominated to take over US Forces Korea, the Pentagon announced Monday. If confirmed, Brooks will take over for Army Gen. Curtis Scaparrotti, who was nominated to take over command of US European Command from retiring Air Force Gen. Philip Breedlove. Brooks has served as an operational commander in the Korean peninsula, the Balkans, and the Middle East, Defense Secretary Ash Carter said in a statement. “His deep understanding of the needs of our men and women on the ground is comple?mented by his skills as a communicator and strategic planner, developed during demanding tours at US Central Command and at the Pentagon,” Carter said.
The six-week government shutdown did not affect the hours flown by Air Force pilots, a service spokesperson told Air & Space Forces Magazine—avoiding what could have been a major blow at a time when flying hours are already lower than they have been in decades.
