The 58th Special Operations Wing at Kirtland AFB, N.M., welcomed its second new-build MC-130J Combat Shadow II aircraft. Gen. Edward Rice, head of Air Education and Training Command, accepted delivery of aircraft No. 5682 for the training unit on Tuesday. He called it “an honor” to accept the newest member of Kirtland’s fleet. The MC-130J came to Kirtland from Lockheed Martin’s production facility in Marietta, Ga. The Air Force is procuring a fleet of MC-130Js to replace its older MC-130 special-mission aircraft. (Lockheed Martin release)
Air Mobility Command boss Gen. Mike Minihan awarded 51 Distinguished Flying Cross awards at Joint Base Charleston, S.C., on Nov. 21—one of the largest DFC ceremonies in recent history. All of the awards were given to Airmen who participated in Operation Allies Refuge, the noncombatant evacuation out of Kabul, Afghanistan,…