Air Force Reserve Command’s 41st Aerial Port Squadron at Keesler AFB, Miss., dedicated a new $8.5 million cargo-handling and operations building on the base. “The increased efficiencies associated with training and working in a purpose-built facility will not only benefit the 41st APS, but will be a direct benefit to the 403rd Wing” said squadron Commander Lt. Col. Michael Grubb at the Oct. 20 ribbon cutting. The Reserve wing is the squadron’s parent unit. Located directly on the flight line, the new facility will enable forklifts and K-loaders to shuttle pallets assembled indoors directly to transport aircraft, states Keesler’s Oct. 21 release. The two-story, 30,000 square-foot building includes office, classroom, and training space as well as a rolling floor for cargo preparation, and a rigging tower for air-drop parachutes, according to the release. The squadron supports Keesler’s C-130 airlifters and WC-130 weather reconnaissance aircraft. (Keesler report by TSgt. Ryan Labadens)
A provision in the fiscal 2025 defense policy bill will require the Defense Department to include the military occupational specialty of service members who die by suicide in its annual report on suicide deaths, though it remains to be seen how much data the department will actually disclose.