The 86th Contingency Response Group from Ramstein AB, Germany, has 15 airmen on the ground in Tbilisi, Georgia, to maintain aerial port operations for the regularly arriving flights of US humanitarian aid. Since flights began, the US forces have delivered more than 200 short tons of relief supplies. US European Command is coordinating the airlift, which has included USAF C-17s and C-130s and a US Navy C-9, which made its first delivery on Aug. 18. (Includes 3rd Air Force report; AFPS report by John Kruzel; Navy report by Lt. Cmdr. Corey Barker)
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.