Members of the Utah Air National Guard’s 151st Air Refueling Wing, along with airmen from Sheppard AFB, Tex., were in Santiago, Chile, on Feb. 27 when the massive 8.8-magnitude earthquake hit the South American nation. They had arrived there days earlier to deliver the first of three KC-135E tankers that the Chilean Air Force has purchased from the US and to train the Chilean aircrews and maintainers. After the Earthquake, the Air Guardsmen immediately switched to humanitarian-assistance mode, transporting mobile medical units and supplies around Chile to support the international relief efforts. Along the way, they’ve been able to fit in some real-world training for the Chileans, who are riding along with them. “These students are getting Ph.D.-level training,” said Lt. Col. Boyd Badali, one of the 151st ARW pilots. He added, “It’s been a great experience.” (Salt Lake City report by Maj Krista DeAngelis)
The use of a military counter-drone laser on the southwest border this week—which prompted the Federal Aviation Administration to abruptly close the airspace over El Paso, Texas—will be a “case study” on the complex web of authorities needed to employ such weapons near civilian areas and the consequences of agencies…
