Brig. Gen. Rumen Radev, deputy commander of the Bulgarian air force, led a delegation to Laughlin AFB, Tex., to tour the base’s pilot training program. “Our trip to Laughlin helped us realize why you have such a great Air Force,” he said. The Bulgarians’ two days at the Texas base, which concluded on March 20, were the latest in a series of base tours geared to help them transform their air force’s pilot training. Radev spoke with wing leadership and visited Laughlin’s flying training squadrons. He toured the flight line, aircraft, and flight simulators, and observed classrooms and had several roundtable discussions with Laughlin’s airmen. “We wanted to show off America’s premier pilot training wing,” said Col. Tom Murphy, 47th Flying Training Wing commander. He added, “As NATO allies, it’s important we work together and share our experiences in order to create a better, more unified force.” (Laughlin report by A1C Nathan L. Maysonet)
The U.K. and the U.S. will continue to enjoy access to the ports, airfield, and workshops at Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean for at least another century, under a deal inked between the U.K. and Mauritius May 22.