Airmen
and C-130Js from Ramstein AB, Germany, wrapped up a week-and-a-half of training and skills qualification with the Polish air force during Exercise Screaming Eagle IV at Powidz AB, Poland. “Poland provides an excellent place for our aircrews to increase proficiency on several different flying scenarios, as well as training opportunities for maintainers, aerial porters, and the airborne personnel we have here,” said Capt. Dean Brown, pilot with Ramstein’s 37th Airlift Squadron and an exercise planner. Ramstein survival specialists made high-altitude, low-opening, parachute jumps with Polish special forces, and aerial porters had the rare opportunity to practice night-vision-equipped loading operations, according to Ramstein’s Aug. 1 release. “At Ramstein, we cannot get the flightline completely dark, so the training we conduct here is more realistic,” added 435th Contingency Response Group instructor MSgt. Jeffery Platz. The annual exercise ran from July 24 to Aug. 3. (Powidz report by SrA. Aaron Wainwright)
When Space Force leaders started talking about expanding the service early this year, the idea was simple: double the size of the force in the next five years. At AFA’s Air, Space & Cyber conference this week, officials detailed just how they’re planning to grow so much so quickly.
