Air Force officials at the Transit Center at Manas, Kyrgyzstan, have established a Theater Security Cooperation Division to promote bilateral US-Kyrgyz relations through humanitarian assistance, military-to-military activities, and community partnerships. “The TSC will strive tirelessly to build bridges and uncover solutions to important issues for both the United States and the people of Kyrgyzstan,” said Daniel Ginsberg, USAF’s assistant secretary for manpower and reserve affairs, at the division’s stand-up ceremony April 23. Airmen worked 10 months to create the division. Lt. Col. John Elshaw, TSC director, said a top priority is working with local high-ranking Kyrgyz government officials to organize and plan projects. “In the past, we would provide humanitarian assistance anywhere we could,” he said. “Now we’re drafting operating instructions, setting standards and procedures to sustain this operation for the future.” (Manas report by TSgt. Jerome C. Baysmore)
The Air Force has spent more than two years studying cancer risks to Airmen who work with the service's intercontinental ballistic missiles. Now lawmakers in Congress are placing fresh scrutiny on the issue and have prepared legislation that would direct the service to clean silos and launch facilities.