Airmen are not usually associated with cattle drives. But, to the delight of service personnel, family members, and others, airmen from the 97th Air Mobility Wing at Altus AFB, Okla., joined citizens from the surrounding communities in riding horses to guide more than 20 longhorn cattle around the base in the 16th Annual Altus Air Force Base Cattle Drive on Aug. 21. “Today is a day when the community and base can get together and show the ties that we have,” CMSgt. Bryan Creager, 97th AMW command chief, said in an Air Education and Training Command release. “It’s been a great day and the partnership has been outstanding.” The cattle drive, which started in 1999 with 30 longhorns driven through the base, is part of the Great Plains Stampede Rodeo Military Appreciation Night at the City of Altus rodeo grounds, which included a free dinner for the service members and their families.
Amid NATO’s continued push to ramp up air defenses in Eastern Europe, Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall swung by seven allied countries to boost relations last week, including those on Russia’s and Ukraine’s doorstep.