The 19th Operations Group at Little Rock AFB, Ark., is reaping dividends from the decision made nearly one year ago to truncate the unit’s C-130 flying operations from five days to four to leave Fridays dedicated to training, according to a base release. This change has led to increased training rates and improved deployment readiness, while saving taxpayer dollars, states the Jan. 31 release. “What we wanted to do was come up with a way to improve our deployment readiness,” said Lt. Col. Toby Sernel, the group’s deputy commander. Through changes such as “more effective and efficient use” of flying training hours and maximizing the use of flight simulators on base, the group has achieved this, he said. “Our crews are more prepared for [US Central Command’s area of responsibility] now than they were a year ago,” said Sernel. “The benefits extend to everyone throughout the group,” he said. (Little Rock report SSgt. Jacob Barreiro)
The Pentagon has concluded a new agreement to buy laser-guidance kits that turn rockets into drone-killing weapons. BAE Systems and the Defense Department announced a framework deal of up to seven years for 25,000 Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System guidance kits annually for the U.S. military.