The word out of the latest rotation of bomber aircrews and maintainers to shuffle off to Andersen AFB, Guam, is that the climate on the island is “damp.” Airmen from the 28th Bomb Wing, Ellsworth AFB, S.D., have replaced their compatriots, who left their B-1B bombers, for the next Global Strike Task Force rotation to the Pacific region. TSgt. Robert Mulder told USAF photojournalist TSgt. Shane Cuomo, that the “rain and salt air affects all the equipment.” Another B-1 maintainer, TSgt. Glen Rausch called the new situation a “good challenge.” The unit launches seven to 10 sorties a week from the island.
Air Force Gen. Jacqueline D. Van Ovost—a trailblazer and one of the first 10 women to reach a four-star rank across the U.S. military—retired and passed control of U.S. Transportation Command to Air Force Gen. Randall Reed on Oct. 4, finishing an eventful tenure at TRANSCOM.