Two Airmen Killed in Afghanistan

The Pentagon announced Wednesday that two airmen died May 26 of wounds received from an improvised explosive device near Bagram AB, Afghanistan. Lt. Col. Mark E. Stratton II, 39, had deployed from the Joint Staff at the Pentagon to Afghanistan, where he had been serving as commander of the Panjshir Provincial Reconstruction Team, according to an April 8 American Forces Press Service article . SrA. Ashton L. M. Goodman, 21, of Indianapolis had deployed to Afghanistan from the 43rd Logistics Readiness Squadron at Pope AFB, N.C. According to an Air Force News Service article Goodman wrote, she also was serving with the Panjshir PRT. (A Pope Air Force Base release notes that she is the fourth airman from that base to die in action since the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. The Mobile Press-Register reports that Stratton grew up in Foley, Ala., leaving in 1987 to attend Texas A&M University.

Need New Tanker Footprint

Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz told the Senate Armed Services Committee last week that the Air Force is moving ahead with its tanker replacement program, but the end result once the “two-decade-plus” effort is over may not be “a...

To Split or Not to Split?

The answer was the same from both Air Force Secretary Michael Donley and Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz: no split for the rejuvenated KC-X tanker replacement program. The Air Force plans to issue a new draft request for proposals...

Explaining CSAR

According to Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz, Defense Secretary Robert Gates doesn’t understand that the Air Force’s combat search and rescue mission supports the joint team. He believes that may be a baseline misunderstanding that, coupled with asking for...

Yes, New Bomber Needs a Pilot

That’s the opinion of Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz, according to a report by Otto Kreisher in CongressDaily. Speaking at a Center for Strategic and International Studies-sponsored forum last week, Schwartz said he believes the new next generation bomber...

Top Chief for NORAD Is an Air Guardsman

In a first for the Air National Guard, NORAD and US Northern Command have installed ANG CMSgt. W. Allen Usry as their new senior enlisted advisor, replacing Army Command Sgt. Maj. Daniel Wood, who plans to retire. Usry has been...

Green Light for Green

The Senate last week confirmed the Air Force’s choice of Maj. Gen. Charles Green as its new Surgeon General, about a month after the White House submitted his nomination. Green, currently serving as deputy Surgeon General, will pin on three...

First “Actives” Return to Pease

The New Hampshire Air National Guard’s 157th Air Refueling Wing at Pease ANG Base will receive about 135 active duty airmen over the summer, starting next month, reports Foster’s Daily Democrat. The active airmen will work with their Air Guard...

Will It Work?

President Obama has signed into law the Weapons Systems Acquisition Reform Act of 2009, a bill sponsored by Sen. Carl Levin (D-Mich.) and Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), chairman and ranking member, respectively, of the Senate Armed Services Committee. At the...

Air Sorties in War on Terrorism, Southwest Asia

May 23-24, 2009 Sortie Type OIF OEF OIF/OEF Total YTD ISR 42 38 80 5,805 CAS/Armed Recon 42 144 186 14,004 Airlift 280 280 19,671 Air refueling 103 103 6,383 Total 649 45,863 OIF=Operation Iraqi Freedom OEF=Operation Enduring Freedom ISR=Intelligence-surveillance-reconnaissance...