The 2005 BRAC drama is nearly done—Congress just has to do nothing—but for many Air National Guard units across the country the “anxiety” they face in aircraft and personnel movements is really sinking in, says Lt. Gen. Daniel James III,...

This wholesale restructuring of ANG air was no surprise to James and National Guard leaders, he says. In fact, he notes that over several years, the Guard discussed with state officials what missions each state could support and that information...

James had a few choice comments for Administration officials who think they can tinker with the Air Expeditionary Force mix of capabilities. “We do not want to be put in the position, as an Air Force, that we cannot ensure...

The Pentagon has challenged the US District Court ruling that would save the Air National Guard’s 111th Fighter Wing at NAS Willow Grove, Pa. (DR, 09/02/05) And, the governor is prepared to challenge that challenge. Despite the prospect of returning...

The state of Florida appears to need a very small fraction of the level of military support generated for Hurricane Katrina, although the Pentagon geared up numerous forces for a quick response. So far, the Air National Guard has airlifted...

Take a collision-damaged F-15 and send it to the Warner Robins Air Logistics Center, Robins AFB, Ga., hospital section for life-sustaining surgery. Some 37 blue-suit and civilian mechanics and technicians worked a combined 5,000 man-hours—just over eight months work—to complete...

A C-17 transporting 32 airmen, marines, and soldiers from Balad AB, Iraq, to Landstuhl Medical Center in Germany recently had to divert to RAF Mildenhall, Britain, when bad weather closed down Ramstein and Spangdahlem Air Bases. Mildenhall got 30 minutes...

Earthquake relief in Pakistan continues, as the Pentagon says it soon will increase the number of US troops within the country from about 560 to more than 1,000. USAF has additional airlift sorties planned, some to haul troops, supplies, and...

USAF and coalition aircraft are flying close air support missions daily in Southwest Asia—both in Iraq and Afghanistan. (See the number of CAS, intelligence-surveillance-reconnaissance, and mobility sorties flown by date, below and in previous Daily Reports.) On Oct. 24 and...

Lt. Col. Calvin Butts, who runs plans and programs at the Warner Robins ALC, recently assembled a team of 29 airmen and several soldiers, sailors, and marines to set up the first Joint Air Cargo Operations Team (JACOT) at Al...

How Busy Have the Hunters Been Air Force Reserve Command officials have toted up the numbers amassed by the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron’s WC-130J Hurricane Hunters during this year’s hurricane season—124 missions flown, logging nearly 1,200 hours. They say that...

Those former CIA employees of the iconic “Air America” clandestine flight service who were not already military veterans have been trying to get the Air Force to recognize their efforts in Southeast Asia as active duty service—making them eligible for...

Taking the Next Step: The Committee Defense Review—the “it’s not a separate QDR” examination of defense capabilities and needs launched by the House Armed Services Committee in mid-September has set up six more panels to augment its Threat Panel. The...

Sen. Pete Domenici (R-N.M.) has announced that the Senate dropped funding for work on the Robust Nuclear Earth Penetrator (RNEP) project. He says the earth-penetrating focus now will shift to the Pentagon’s approach using conventional warheads. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld...

A motivated group of Air Force Reserve Command airmen deployed to Balad AB, Iraq, recently spent 10 days turning a dingy and foul-smelling back shop into a fully functional avionics intermediate shop for the busy base. Reservists from Homestead ARB,...

The Shanghai Cooperation Organization—the Russia-China led group that includes Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan—now may see itself growing into an organization to rival NATO, reports the Christian Science Monitor. This was the group that, in June, caused a ripple when...

According to a new Harris poll, the American public has shifted its opinion about initiating military action in Iraq. The poll finds that a majority—some 53 percent—now believe engaging in war in Iraq was wrong. Harris says this is a...

October 25, 2005 Sortie Type OIF OEF OIF/OEF Total ISR 10 5 – 15 CAS/Armed Recon 42 19 – 61 Airlift – – 185 185 Air refueling – – 39 39 Total 52 24 224 300 OIF=Operation Iraqi Freedom OEF=Operation...