A C-17 
transport and crew operating with the 816th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron in Southwest Asia brought the first Marine Corps M1A1 Abrams tank to Afghanistan. Additional M1A1s followed on more C-17s, marking the first time that the Pentagon has introduced the 68-ton main battle tanks to support operations there in the history of the nine-year Afghan conflict. Marine Corps Maj. Gen. Richard Mills, commander of Afghanistan’s Regional Command-Southwest, requested the tanks to increase the firepower of his forces in the non-mountainous areas of his region. Getting the M1A1s to the land-locked nation requires a combination of sealift and airlift, with C-17s executing the last leg of the trip. The first tanks arrived Nov. 25. (Scott report by Capt. Justin Brockhoff)
Air Force Gen. Alexus G. Grynkewich assumed command of U.S. European Command on July 1, taking over the key assignment as the U.S. and its allies contend with a resurgent Russia and a grinding war in Ukraine.
