About 100 airmen from the 104th Fighter Wing at Barnes ANGB, Mass., deployed to Germany on May 12 for integration training with Active Duty airmen at Spangdahlem and Ramstein Air Bases. The training allows the Guardsmen to work on scenarios they may not have seen since technical school, such as do-it-yourself and permanent change of station moves, according to a press release. The training also includes using a hot pit refueling system, which Barnes does not have, said Maj. Wendy Kiepke, the installation deployment manager for the 104th FW. The airmen will support other members of the 104th FW who are deployed to Bulgaria.
As Air Force leaders consider concepts of operations for Collaborative Combat Aircraft, sustainment in the field—and easing that support by using standard parts and limiting variants—should be a key consideration, according to a new study from AFA's Mitchell Institute of Aerospace Studies.