The Air Force is considering restructuring the 116th Air Control Wing at Robins AFB, Ga., so that it conforms to the organizational constructs established for integrating active duty and reserve component airmen. This unit was the service’s first Total Force wing when it stood up in 2002, bringing together active duty airmen and Air National Guardsmen under a unified, blended organization and single command chain to operate E-8C Joint STARS ground-surveillance aircraft. However, as currently structured, the “blended” wing “does not fit into” any of the Total Force Integration associations (i.e., classic, active, ARC) codified in 2007, service officials tell the Daily Report. Accordingly, the Air Force is mulling making “the 116th ACW as a TFI active association,” they said. “We fully expect the continued integration of the regular Air Force and Air National Guard on the Joint STARS mission,” they noted. A decision is expected sometime later this summer.
NATO Scrambles Fighter in Newest Response to Russian Drones
Sept. 16, 2025
NATO scrambled its first fighter Sept. 13 under its new plan to bolster its defenses against Russian air incursions that was put into place after an array of Russian drones flew into Polish airspace last week, the officials from the alliance’s military command said.
