Members of the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing on June 25 celebrated the grand opening of a new sports lounge that they say rivals sports bars in US cities. In fact, wing officials said this Fox Sports Sky Box at the 379th’s undisclosed forward base is “unlike any other in the history of the Department of Defense” as far as quality-of-life ventures are concerned. “Our service members are going to feel like they’re back home in their favorite sports bar,” said Lt. Col. Paul Kopecki, 379th Expeditionary Force Support Squadron commander. Inspiration for the lounge came after Fox sports broadcasters visited the base. “We all agreed that the guys and gals fighting for our country deserved something better,” said Fox NFL Sunday co-host Terry Bradshaw. Fox donated all furniture and equipment, plus the franchise license. (379th AEW report by SSgt. Kelly White)
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.