Fifteen USAF battlefield airmen assigned to Ft. Lewis, Wash., to provide close air support assistance for I Corps units, recently underwent CAS training with Navy F/A-18 Super Hornets as part of Exercise Twilight, held in the Olympic Military Operating Area. The 5th Air Support Operations Squadron Tactical Air Control Party airmen directed the Navy aviators from NAS Lemoore, Calif., in simulated urban CAS operations, sharing a common digital picture that enabled silent targeting. The TACP’s also practiced their “talk-on” with the Navy pilots. “Exercises like this are great because they let us refine our procedures and ensure we’re ready to support the joint fight,” said Col. Rob Evans, commander of 1st Air Support Operations Group, also at Ft. Lewis. (Exercise Twilight report from Forks, Wash.)
Airmen and Guardians in the Active and Reserve component, as well as civilian employees, in “mission critical and high-risk populations” are now required to receive influenza vaccinations annually to “preserve force readiness,” according to a recent Department of the Air Force memo.