More than 500 Air National Guard security forces personnel have deployed to Southwest Asia or are in the process of going there in the coming weeks. CMSgt. David Obetz, ANG security forces career field manager in the National Guard Bureau, said members from units in more than 20 states and territories are going on 179-day tours, part of the nine-month mobilization of these Guard personnel. Including this new wave of deployments, about 1,110 ANG security force personnel out of a total of 6,800 will be in Southwest Asia sometime in Fiscal 2008, he said, noting the Guard’s contribution. The units deploying will protect personnel and equipment at Bagram AB, Afghanistan, Baghdad International Airport and Kirkuk Air Base in Iraq, Manas AB, Kyrgyzstan, and Eskan Village near Riyadh AB, Saudi Arabia. The first package that left May 16 for Saudi Arabia included 25 airmen from Utah’s 151st Security Forces Squadron. (National Guard Bureau report by Air Force MSgt. Greg Rudl)
Anduril and General Atomics will develop their Collaborative Combat Aircraft for the Air Force, beating out Boeing, Lockheed Martin, and Northrop Grumman, the service announced on April 24. But any of the non-selected companies can compete to actually manufacture the eventual design, the Air Force said.