Airmen with the 49th Materiel Maintenance Squadron are testing a new hygiene system at Holloman AFB, N.M., that is designed for airmen at forward-deployed locations, according to a base release. The unit was the first to receive the system, which includes latrines and showers, states the April 26 release. The hygiene system is meant to provide “a cleaner, more private, and more durable alternative” to the old set-ups, states the release. The 49th MMS maintains and deploys equipment that supports base-base airfields. (Holloman photo caption by A1C Daniel E. Liddicoet)
Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III rebuffed criticism that the F-35 program has proved too costly and unreliable to serve as the viable backbone of America’s and allies' future fighter fleet on April 30. “I would not categorize the F-35 as a paperweight,” Austin said in response to questioning…