A massive C-5 airlifter landed at Bagram AB, Afghanistan without interrupting flying operations, marking a first for the facility, reports Capt. Michael Meridith. The Air Force finished runway upgrades last December to enable C-5s to land at Bagram without having to move other aircraft out of the way. Opening the field to the largest of USAF’s strategic cargo aircraft means the service can “get cargo to the warfighter faster,” said Col. Jon Sutterfield, commander of the 455th Expeditionary Maintenance Group. The aircraft that landed Sept. 22 offloaded nearly 16,000 pounds of cargo and took off again—in less than three hours.
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.