The Air National Guard unit to become the first “reserve associate” will have an initial cadre of airmen begin work next month with an Air Force Reserve Command unit at Tinker AFB, Okla., reports Reservist Lt. Col. Rich Curry. Already the commanders of the two units have come together for a dual-command KC-135 tanker mission. The Oklahoma ANG’s 137th Airlift Wing is losing its C-130s (a BRAC 2005 action) and will share operating and maintaining duties on KC-135 tankers belonging to AFRC’s 507th Air Refueling Wing.
The use of a military counter-drone laser on the southwest border this week—which prompted the Federal Aviation Administration to abruptly close the airspace over El Paso, Texas—will be a “case study” on the complex web of authorities needed to employ such weapons near civilian areas and the consequences of agencies…
