The 97th Air Mobility Wing at Altus AFB, Okla., worked an arrangement with nearby Ft. Sill to conduct forward air controller training for Canadian airmen and soldiers, concluding the first-time effort earlier this month, according to a Dec. 15 release. The Canadian force previously trained out of NAS Fort Worth, Tex., but sought the arrangement with Altus and Ft. Sill to cut down on time and resources needed to transit to the training range. Since Ft. Sill is a three-minute flight from Altus, Canadian CF-18s didn’t need the aerial refueling support they had required operating from NAS Fort Worth. According to Lt. Col. Derek Oliver, 97th Mission Support Group commander, “The Canadian visit really showed our ability to adapt to different scenarios.” He added, “We have robust facilities and world-class airmen.” The Canadians plan to return in March. (Altus report by SrA. Clinton Atkins)
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.