Nine Air National Guard officers helped the Air Force determine whether it could open to non-rated officers the previously rated-only air liaison officer position, which was a special duty for rated officers. The Air Guard ALOs proved the concept, and the service just selected a new crop of non-rated officers to attend tactical air control party training. If they pass, they will serve in the new ALO career field (Air Force Specialty Code 13L). One of the Air Guardsmen, Lt. Col. William Wheeler, has served as an ALO for nearly 20 years and currently commands the Illinois ANG’s 168th Air Support Operations Squadron. Continue
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.