The Defense Department has named the 75th Civil Engineer Group Environmental Division at Hill AFB, Utah, as the best Environmental Quality Team in DOD. The division comprises 21 natural, cultural, and environmental compliance specialists, including biologists, engineers, an archaeologist, and other managers. Division chief Bob James credited the unit’s success to the “environmental consciousness and ethic of many, many individuals.” The Hill team covers not only the base area but also the Utah Test and Training Range and Little Mountain Test Annex. Among several achievements, the division established a new recycling program for scrap metals that generated $43,000 for the base and reduced hazardous waste costs by more than $440,000 per year. (Hill report by Barbara Fisher)
The Air Force displayed all the firepower it has amassed on Okinawa in an unusually diverse show of force this week. IIn a May 6 “Elephant Walk,” Kadena Air Base showcased 24 F-35A Lightning II stealth fighters, eight F-15E Strike Eagles; two U.S. Army Patriot anti-missile batteries near the runway; and…