Service officials are considering expanding the new Deployment Transition Center at Ramstein AB, Germany, to include vehicle operators and civil engineers who operate outside the wire. Right now, only defenders and explosive ordnance disposal technicians with combat experience are required to visit the center before arriving back at their home stations. The move comes about two months after the first airmen passed through the center, which was established to put airmen who many have had traumatic combat experiences in touch with professionals and other similarly experienced airmen. CMSAF James Roy said the next step will be trying to incorporate families into the equation. (See also Help for Airmen Returning from Combat from the Daily Report archives)
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.