Pacific Air Forces is slated to kick off its seventh annual joint humanitarian assistance operation with Tonga on Monday by sending approximately 65 US service members to the country. As part of Operation Pacific Angel-Tonga, they will work alongside Tonga’s military force to help provide “general health, dental, optometry, pediatrics, and engineering programs” during the six-day humanitarian operation, states a release. Led by Pacific Air Forces, Operation PACANGEL helps “improve and build relationships in the event of future humanitarian assistance and disaster relief efforts” and “supports US Pacific Command’s capacity-building,” states the release.
When acting Air Force Secretary Gary A. Ashworth rescinded service-wide “Family Days” last week citing the need to build readiness, he left it up to commanders, directors, and supervisors to decide if they would still permit extra days off. Here’s how Air Force major commands are taking that guidance.