The Air Force does
n’t want to waste the Army’s time when it comes to airmen partaking of Ranger training, so it runs its own mini-training course to ensure it sends “the best of the best to ranger training,” according to MSgt. Jason France, operations superintendent for the 820th Security Forces Group at Moody AFB, Ga. This year, for the first time in the Pre-Ranger Course’s four-year history, the Air Force opened the prep class to airmen from all bases and all career fields. The 13-day intensive course tests the airmen’s physical and mental capability—working them about 20 hours a day with two meals-ready-to-eat each day—much as is done during the first two-weeks of actual Ranger school. This year, too, Army Ranger instructors worked with the 820th SFG instructors. One Ranger instructor, Sgt. 1st Class Todd Hitchings, praised the Moody operation, noting it as the basis for USAF’s high Ranger graduation rate. Since 1955, the Air Force has had about 220 airmen graduate from Ranger training. (Moody report by A1C Spencer Gallien)
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.