Reservists with the 477th Fighter Group at JB Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, resumed F-22 flight operations after a standdown that lasted more than four months. They made their first flights together on Oct. 15 during the group’s monthly training weekend, which was the first time all of the group’s pilots and maintainers were able to train together since Air Combat Command lifted the F-22 grounding on Sept. 19. “The grounding period has been a difficult time for both man and machine. I salute each of you who managed to keep both your mission focus and your skill at high levels that enabled such a seamless return to [flight],” said Col. Bryan Radliff, 477th FG commander. The Air Force’s F-22 fleet was grounded in May 3 due to concerns over some pilots exhibiting systems akin to an insufficient oxygen supply in flight. (Elmendorf-Richardson report by Capt. Ashley Conner)
Three of four congressional committees with influence over defense policy have voted to change the official name of the Department of Defense to the Department of War—but final approval of the Pentagon rebrand is months away and not yet assured.