Nearly 3,000 service members from more than 25 countries are at Air Mobility Rodeo 2011 at JB Lewis-McChord, Wash. The biennial competition brings together mobility professionals to showcase their skills in events like airdrops and aerial refueling. Airmen from Belgium, the Netherlands, Pakistan, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, Spain, and Sweden are participating this year, while representatives from more than 20 other countries are observing the event, which kicked off on July 24 and runs through July 29. Among the observing nations are first-timers Algeria, Botswana, Ethiopia, Nigeria, and South Africa. The five African nations are looking to improve their airdrop capability. “More specifically, their attendance also helps them understand more about humanitarian airdrops in support to the African Union,” said Lt. Col. David Mackenzie, deputy director of plans and requirements for 17th Air Force (Air Forces Africa) at Ramstein AB, Germany. McChord’s 62nd Air Mobility Wing won the last rodeo in 2009. (Lewis-McChord report by MSgt. Scott T. Sturkol and second joint base report by SSgt. J.G. Buzanowski)
The nation needs a better-coordinated policy for dealing with unmanned aerial systems that threaten domestic bases, Air Force vice chief of staff Gen. James C. Slife told a panel of the Senate Armed Services Committee. He and Pentagon acquisition and sustainment chief William LaPlante co-chair a panel looking at counter-UAS…