In late summer, USAF’s E-8 Joint STARS force surpassed 20,000 combat hours covering operations in both Afghanistan and Iraq. Now, Air Force journalist TSgt. Steve Staedler reports that the three Joint STARS squadrons from Robins AFB, Ga., flying 90-day rotations, have amassed more than 20,000 hours over Iraq alone since operations began in 2003. The 12th Expeditionary Airborne Command and Control Squadron actually flew the milestone mission on Nov. 30, 2006. That 20K equates to 833 days of flying.
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.