In its first week, the Operation Arctic Care team treated some 1,100 medical patients and 900 dental patients, produced nearly 600 prescription eyeglasses, and vaccinated more than 550 dogs. Arctic Care is an annual joint US military medical readiness and logistics training exercise that provides humanitarian assistance and medical care to US citizens in isolated areas of Alaska. It’s in its 16th year, according to an Arctic Sounder report, which noted that some 250 US military medical personnel participated in this year’s operation, which ended April 24. The Army is slated to lead the effort in 2011, followed by the Air National Guard in 2012. (Also see OAC reports from Kotzebue, Alaska, by Maj. Cary McPartlin April 26; TSgt. Melissa Chatham April 22; SSgt. Paul Croxon April 19; Croxon April 14)
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.