More than 20 civilian bosses, who employ airmen with the Texas Air National Guard’s 149th Fighter Wing got the chance to visit the unit in March at Lackland AFB, Tex., and experience first-hand the wing’s operations. This visit was meant to be a show of appreciation to the employers for their support. They learned about the unit’s heritage and its current F-16 training mission and state disaster preparedness activities. They also got an upfront look at the F-16 with Viper pilots and maintainers serving as their guides. And they even got to witness F-16s being refueled in flight from their vantage point aboard a KC-135 tanker. “I’ve never experienced anything like this,” said Keith Christian, a grocery store chain manager. “Wow. What a job!” added Jed Garmon, a local power generation equipment shop service manager. (Lackland report by SSgt. Phil Fountain)
Airmen and Guardians in the Active and Reserve component, as well as civilian employees, in “mission critical and high-risk populations” are now required to receive influenza vaccinations annually to “preserve force readiness,” according to a recent Department of the Air Force memo.