Airmen of the 22nd Air Refueling Wing at McConnell AFB, Kan., took part in a six day, US Strategic Command-led global response exercise in late June to test the unit’s ability to deploy rapidly and sustain operations from a remote location. During the exercise, the wing practiced dispatching four of its KC-135 tankers, nearly 100 personnel, and 13.5 tons of cargo to a forward location to support the combatant commander. “That deployment process took a concerted effort across the wing and I really appreciate everyone coming together to make it happen,” said Col. Jamie Crowhurst, 22nd ARW commander. Capt. Leah Vanagas, the wing’s inspections chief, said the exercise helps the unit “to be better trained and equipped for a real-world scenario.” This exercise also helped the wing as it prepares for its next operational readiness inspection in 2011. (McConnell report by Amn. Armando A. Schwier-Morale)
The U.K. and the U.S. will continue to enjoy access to the ports, airfield, and workshops at Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean for at least another century, under a deal inked between the U.K. and Mauritius May 22.