The 49th Wing set a record for Holloman AFB, N.M., simultaneously launching 15 of its F-22s during a base-wide operational-readiness exercise. “I’m really proud of the efforts everyone made in this exercise,” summed 49th Wing Commander Col. David Krumm. “People were safe, effective, and they got their jobs done,” he added. The three-day exercise, held Feb. 27-29, evaluated Holloman’s ability “if called upon to rapidly deploy anywhere around the world,” said Maj. Max Vollkommer, 49th Wing planning chief. The event culminated in the F-22 scramble on Feb. 29. Evaluators also graded the base’s airmen in areas like force protection, deployment logistics, and personnel processing. Holloman is scheduled to lose its Raptor fleet under the Air Force’s F-22 consolidation plan. (Holloman report by A1C Anthony M. Ward) (For more on F-22 consolidation, read Moving Time from Air Force Magazine’s 2011 archive.)
Like a new car from the dealership, an HH-60W helicopter touched down at Joint Base Andrews, Md., on Nov. 2 with paperwork, a set of keys, and that fresh-from-the-factory smell. The newly activated 5th Helicopter Squadron accepted its first “Whiskey” in a brief but pomp-filled ceremony attended by the Air…