The multinational Heavy Airlift Wing that operates three C-17s out of Pápa AB, Hungary, reached 12,000 total flight hours, announced the wing on Thursday. The unit, which supports NATO and several partner nations, hit the mark during a sortie on Nov. 13, states the wing’s release. The HAW began operations in July 2009. It is the operational arm of the Strategic Airlift Capability consortium, a group of 10 NATO members (United States, Bulgaria, Estonia, Hungary, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Romania, and Slovenia) and two NATO Partnership for Peace nations (Finland and Sweden). Since its inception, the wing has conducted more than 840 missions, delivering some 36,220 tons of cargo and carrying more than 47,000 passengers, according to the release. (Pápa report by Ville Tuokko) (See also Cheering Cooperation.)
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.