Members of the 97th Air Mobility Wing at Altus AFB, Okla., claimed top title as “Best Air Mobility Wing” at the Air Mobility Rodeo at JB Lewis-McChord, Wash. The wing operates C-17s and KC-135s as part of Air Education and Training Command’s training mission. This year’s rodeo—a biennial, week-long air mobility competition—pitted nearly 150 teams, including 34 international crews, against one another in categories from loading and logistics to airdrop and air-to-air refueling. “We never know where we’ll be operating next,” said Brig. Gen. Frederick Martin, Air Mobility Command’s director of operations, during the July 29 closing ceremony and awards presentation. He added, “The more partnerships we can build around the globe, the better we can perform our mission.” (Lewis-McChord report by SSgt. J.G. Buzanowski) (For a full list of awards, see this Lewis-McChord release.)
As the gap between U.S. and China’s space capabilities narrows, national security space experts say the Space Force and the broader Pentagon should forge stronger connections with the Intelligence Community and NASA in order to stay ahead.
