US Transportation Command boss Gen. William Fraser said he expects the command’s workload to ease as readiness needs and demand signals decline from the regional combatant commands. Testifying before the House Armed Services Committee on March 6, Fraser said he is working closely with all four military services and TRANSCOM’s commercial partners “to mitigate second- and third-order effects of these reductions on our sealift, on our airlift, and surface capabilities.” However, he said, as US combat forces continue to drawdown in Afghanistan, there will inevitably be less business for the command’s commercial transport partners. “And so, we’re working with our partners through executive working groups in both the ground, the air, and the sea lanes . . . to make sure that we have that right balance and they adjust their business plans for the future,” said Fraser. He added, “It’s a collaborative effort working with industry really across all the various modes of transportation right now.” (Fraser’s prepared testimony)
Earlier this spring, the 388th Fighter Wing proved just 12 Airmen can operate an F-35 contingency location, refueling and rearming the fighters at spots across Georgia and South Carolina. The demonstration, part of exercise Agile Flag 23-1, marks yet another proof of concept for the Air Force’s plan to send…