The Afghan Air Force this month performed its first all-Afghan C-130 training flight, according to an Air Force Central Command release. The flight was a significant step toward sustainability by the only C-130 crew in the Afghan Air Force, which was conducted just over a year after the first all-Afghan crew flew its first operational mission on the plane, stated the release. During the flight, US advisors trained Afghan flight engineer and loadmaster candidates on other C-130s, even though initial training of C-130 crew members was not originally part of the train, advise, and assist mission. The sortie was an upgrade flight for an Afghan aircraft commander candidate. In August, the Air Force announced that airmen assigned to the 445th Air Expeditionary Advisory Squadron were hosting hands-on classes to train Afghan Air Force members on how to repair and operate the Afghan C-130H.
F-35As from the Vermont Air National Guard have deployed to Puerto Rico in recent days, continuing a major buildup of U.S. Air Force assets in Latin America aimed at combating drug trafficking and pressuring the regime of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro.
