Air Force Secretary Michael Donley met US airmen and contractors assigned to the multinational Strategic Airlift Capability’s Heavy Airlift Wing at Pápa AB, Hungary, this week. He also met with HAW leadership. “This is a very unique and exciting program,” said Donley, addressing roughly 40 USAF personnel at the base in an airmen’s call on July 11. “You’re showing the international community that this approach is vital and that by pooling resources, it can be done. You’re building partnership capacity and relationships here that will pay dividends for our Air Force and international partnerships for many years to come,” he added. Since activating in 2009, the HAW fleet has grown to three C-17 transports, jointly operated by 12 partner countries. Though painted in Hungarian colors, airmen from 10 NATO and two NATO Partnerships for Peace countries operate and maintain the aircraft. (Pápa report by MSgt. Wayne Clark) (See also C-17s in Hungary from Air Force Magazine’s archives.)
Pentagon Releases Cost of Living, BAH Rates for 2026
Dec. 30, 2025
The Pentagon will pay cost of living allowances to 127,000 service members in the continental U.S. in 2026, an increase of 66,000 members in 2025. Airmen and Guardians across the U.S. will also receive an average increase of 4.2 percent for their Basic Housing Allowance, compared to the 5.4 percent…
