The 62nd Airlift Wing at McChord AFB, Wash., shone in the newly completed no-notice limited nuclear surety inspection carried out by Air Mobility Command, receiving a “satisfactory” rating, the highest grade possible for this type of demanding going-over. Despite the no notice, the wing was “completely ready” to perform its nuclear mission “at a high level of expertise,” said Col. Jerry Martinez, AMC inspector general. This is even though the wing’s commander and all of its group commanders are new and weren’t even present at the unit’s last NSI in January. (It received a satisfactory rating then, too.) The wing, which operates C-17s, is the nation’s primary nuclear airlift force, with responsibility for transporting nuclear weapons, when called upon. This is in addition to its daily cargo and personnel hauling duties. (Scott report by TSgt. Scott T. Sturkol)
The Air Force is seeking funding to let its pilots fly a little more than 1.1 million hours in fiscal 2027, which would be the most in about four years. But even if Airmen actually do fly all 1.1 million hours, it would still be short of the 1.3 million…