The Air Force completed its final health services inspection as it transitions to a new method of assessing the performance of its medical wings: the unit effectiveness inspection. The Air Force Inspection Agency gave the 59th Medical Wing at JBSA-Lackland, Tex., an “excellent” rating during the final HSI in early February, according to a mid-February base release. The Air Force used HSIs for 30 years, inspecting the medical processes at medical units every three years to ensure that they adhered to the service’s standards. The goal of the new UEIs will be to ensure that military treatment facilities “provide safe and quality healthcare in an efficient, patient-focused, and professional manner,” states the release. “Patient safety is paramount and will always be a top priority,” said Col. John Sell, medical operations director at AFIA. “It’s our goal to ensure patients are receiving the best, safest care possible,” he said. (Lackland report by SSgt. Jerilyn Quintanilla)
There is a new entrant in the highly competitive field of collaborative combat aircraft—semi-autonomous drones meant to fly alongside manned combat aircraft. Northrop Grumman unveiled its new Project Talon aircraft to a small group of reporters at the facilities of its subsidiary Scaled Composites.

