Airmen and F-16s from the Alabama National Guard’s 100th Fighter Squadron in Montgomery touched down at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, on a six-month combat deployment, according to a Bagram release. This mark’s the unit’s first tour in Afghanistan, states the May 2 release. First Lt. Samuel Kniskern, 100th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron intelligence officer in charge, said the Alabama air guardsmen will serve the entire six-month rotation, something unusual for Air Guard units, which usually swap out more frequently. The F-16s arrived on April 27. These airmen will provide over-watch and close air support during their time at Bagram. “I think morale is pretty high; everyone realizes it is a six-month deployment and we are all digging in together,” said Kniskern. (Bagram report by SSgt. Evelyn Chavez)
Lt. Gen. Dan Caine, nominee to be chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told the Senate Armed Services Committee that the Defense Department needs to upgrade its electronic warfare capability and its EW training ranges; just as his predecessor said at his own confirmation hearing.