US and French rescue forces pre-positioned at Camp Lemonier, Djibouti, conducted a combined personnel recovery exercise in the Grand Bara Desert earlier this month. Alaska Air National Guard HC-130s established a forward refueling point to hot-pit refuel HH-60G Pave Hawks, French air force Puma rescue helos, and army Gazelle light attack choppers on March 12. “By joining capabilities with the other PR Task Force partners … we have the ability to go out, pick up a survivor, and bring them back for advanced care” across a 2.4 million square mile AOR, said 81st ERQS Commander Lt. Col. Eric Budd in a release. The Alaska ANG’s 81st Expeditionary Rescue Squadron is currently deployed alongside HH-60s of Air Force Reserve Command’s 303rd ERQS, and guardian angels of the 82nd ERQS, providing rotational support to Joint Task Force Horn of Africa.
The Space Development Agency says it’s on track to issue its next batch of missile warning and tracking satellite contracts this month after those awards were delayed by the Pentagon’s decision to divert funds from the agency to pay troops during this fall’s prolonged government shutdown.
