The Missouri Air National Guard’s 139th Airlift Wing passed its recent operational readiness inspection—the first such comprehensive inspection of the unit in 10 years—with an A+. The News-Press reports that the inspection team leader, Col. John Almind from Air Mobility Command, called the 139th AW’s review “the best I’ve seen to date.” During the eight-day test of the unit’s ability to operate under stressful conditions, the Missouri Air Guard unit faced some 166 inspectors, who, at the conclusion, recommended the unit for 35 recognition awards—10 team and 25 individual. The 139th AW flies C-130s out of St. Joseph’s Rosecrans Airport.
Three of four congressional committees with influence over defense policy have voted to change the official name of the Department of Defense to the Department of War—but final approval of the Pentagon rebrand is months away and not yet assured.