A Reasonable Plan, and Then:

The Deputy Commander of US Special Operations Command told lawmakers this week that he wants to have more information on the Air Force plan for unmanned aerial vehicles before passing judgment. Testifying at an April 24 Senate Armed Services Committee...

Rooted in Jointness:

There seems to be some confusion—and acrimony—on the part of some defense officials and lawmakers over USAF’s unmanned aerial vehicle proposal. Some have condemned it as one that would leave the Army with less battlefield intelligence than it needs, and...

More C-17s—Maybe:

Air Mobility Command boss, Gen. Duncan McNabb, is pursuing an Air Force request for lawmakers to consider authorizing—restriction-free—the retirement of 30 C-5A airlifters and purchase of an equal number of C-17s. The C-17 purchase hinges on USAF working out details...

TFI Unfolds at Hill:

Air Combat Command and Air Force Reserve Command have cemented the Total Force Integration initiative to share F-16 operations at Hill AFB, Utah, between ACC’s 388th Fighter Wing and AFRC’s 419th FW. Officials for the two commands signed a memorandum...

Team US101 Vows $3B Savings:

The US101 team, led by Lockheed Martin Systems Integration in Owego, N.Y., released a statement yesterday following the Air Force’s clarification of its plan to issue a revised request for proposals, saying it’s entrant for the combat search and rescue...

Shutting Down Six:

Air Force Reserve Command plans to inactivate six units this year, eliminating 12 full-time and 543 part-time traditional Reservists positions as of Nov. 30. The units are: 604th Medical Squadron (MDS), Fairchild AFB, Wash.; 704th MDS, Kirtland AFB, N.M.; 722nd...

“Bad Process,” “Bad Policy”:

In a special Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on last year’s change to the Insurrection Act that afforded the President more control over domestic use of the National Guard, panel chairman Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), called the changes “not just bad...

The View From Afar:

The Air Force has embarked on a one-year test at Tinker AFB, Okla., to manage civilian personnel staffing from the Air Force Personnel Center in San Antonio. Tinker, as home to one of USAF’s three Air Logistics Centers, has a...

Eglin Honors EOD Fallen:

Airmen at Eglin AFB, Fla., came together April 21 to honor the six explosive ordnance disposal airmen who have been killed in action in Southwest Asia since January 2006, reports Capt. Chrissy Cuttita with the Air Force Civil Engineer Support...

Not So Fast, Says Navy:

The Navy has derailed plans by Pennsylvania to take charge of NAS JRB Willow Grove, telling the Air Force that a transfer of the property from the Navy to the Air Force has no legal foundation under BRAC procedures or...

Moody Firefighters Help Fight Georgia Fire:

USAF firemen from Moody AFB, Ga., have been helping area firefighters since April 17 to stamp out forest fires raging across southeastern Georgia, reports A1C Eric Schloeffel. The Moody firefighters have been supplying water to local firefighting companies via a...

Air Sorties in the Global War on Terrorism

April 23, 2007 Sortie Type OIF OEF OIF/OEF Total ISR 15 9 24 CAS/Armed Recon 64 50 114 Airlift 170 170 Air refueling 50 50 Total 79 59 220 358 OIF=Operation Iraqi Freedom OEF=Operation Enduring Freedom ISR=Intelligence-surveillance-reconnaissance Airlift includes Horn...