Active and Air National Guard airmen at Hickam AFB, Hawaii, are absorbing their current new mission, flying and maintaining C-17 airlifters. Pilots of the 535th Airlift Squadron last week participated in a four-ship air drop training mission, getting needed multi-element training and sustaining aircrew proficiency. The Hickam C-17s already have flown real-world missions when they aided the flood-ravaged island of Kauai. Hickam also is slated to get the Air Force’s latest fighter—the F-22.
Gen. Dan Caine was confirmed as the 22nd Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff by the Senate early April 11, making history as the first Air National Guardsman to take on the nation's top uniformed job.