First of its Kind?

April 24, 2008

Audio of this article is brought to you by the Air & Space Forces Association, honoring and supporting our Airmen, Guardians, and their families. Find out more at afa.org

Last week the Air Force activated the 911th Air Refueling Squadron at Seymour Johnson AFB, N.C., where the new unit’s active duty airmen will share operation and maintenance of KC-135 aircraft “owned” by Air Force Reserve Command’s 916th Air Refueling Wing. The 911th ARS is the first active associate tanker unit in the service’s Total Force Integration plan. Last summer, the service shut down the 911th ARS at its former home at Grand Forks AFB, N.D., which has to give up its KC-135s under BRAC 2005.

Audio of this article is brought to you by the Air & Space Forces Association, honoring and supporting our Airmen, Guardians, and their families. Find out more at afa.org

Trending Stories

New Report: Air Force Can’t Afford ‘Runaway’ R&D, Needs More Aircraft

Air Force to Inspect All Dorms for ‘Clean, Comfortable, Safe’ Living Conditions

How New Religious Accommodation Rules for Beards Could Impact Airmen’s Careers

Northrop Checks Off Sentinel Milestones While Still Working on Program Restructure

Related

OA-1K Skyraider Crashes in Oklahoma, Crew Uninjured

Oct. 24, 2025
An Air Force OA-1K Skyraider II crashed near Oklahoma City on Oct. 23, with a civilian contractor and Active-duty Airman escaping uninjured. The OA-1K was on a training mission when the crash occurred, less than 10 miles from the base.

How New Religious Accommodation Rules for Beards Could Impact Airmen’s Careers

Oct. 23, 2025
Airmen, Guardians, and other service members that wear beards for religious reasons will be deemed nondeployable as part of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s sweeping crackdown on shaving waivers—a move that would essentially end their careers and one that several former Air Force officials say may go too far in trying…

Space Force Plans $905 Million for Maneuverable GEO Program

Oct. 23, 2025
The Space Force expects to award $905 million in contracts over the next five years through a new Maneuverable GEO program, which aims to form a commercial fleet of mobile communication satellites in geosynchronous orbit.  

New Report: Air Force Can’t Afford ‘Runaway’ R&D, Needs More Aircraft

Oct. 23, 2025
For more than a decade, the Pentagon have steadily invested more and more of its budget in research and development compared to procurement—resulting in a “smaller, older, and less capable force than it needs,” according to a new analysis from the Center for a New American Security think tank.