As flooding continues to plague the Midwest, Air and Army National Guardsmen are still providing additional sand bag reinforcements and delivering much needed supplies. The latest effort, according to a June 20 National Guard Bureau release, was in Missouri, where the state’s governor, Matt Blunt, declared, “Our priority is to protect the lives of Missouri’s residents and their property; then we will focus on recovery efforts.” On June 19 alone, more than 5,700 Air and Army Guard members were assisting efforts in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Missouri, and Wisconsin. (NGB report by SSgt. Jim Greenhill)
Airmen and Guardians in the Active and Reserve component, as well as civilian employees, in “mission critical and high-risk populations” are now required to receive influenza vaccinations annually to “preserve force readiness,” according to a recent Department of the Air Force memo.