US Pacific Command has invited representatives from China, among six other nations, to observe Valiant Shield 2006, which it bills as “one of the largest joint-military exercises in the Pacific in more than a decade.” Command officials say some 33 representatives from Australia, China, India, Japan, South Korea, Russia, and Singapore are on hand at Andersen AFB, Guam, the hub for the exercise, comprising about 22,000 US airmen, coast guardsmen, marines, sailors, and soldiers. The exercise runs through June 23.
The last remaining T-1 Jayhawk at JBSA-Randolph, Texas, took its final flight to the "Boneyard" at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., on July 15. The 99th Flying Training Squadron will train pilots using T-6 and simulator until it gets T-7 Red Hawk in fiscal 2026.