For the first time in its 54-year history, the Air Force Recruiting School at Lackland AFB, Tex., has graduated an international student. On June 13, Royal Saudi Air Force 1st Lt. Hamad Al-Shammari received a diploma for having successfully completed the school’s seven-week recruiting course. He was also presented with the distinguished graduate award for having the highest academic scores of his 11-member class. In the past, international students have participated in the course, but only as observers. Al-Shammari will recruit both military and civilians for the RSAF back in Saudi Arabia. (Lackland report by James Coburn)
The Air Force and Boeing agreed to a nearly $2.4 billion contract for a new lot of KC-46 aerial tankers on Nov. 21. The deal, announced by the Pentagon, is for 15 new aircraft in Lot 11 at a cost of $2.389 billion—some $159 million per tail.