The Air Force Expeditionary Center at JB McGuire, N.J., last week assumed responsibility for five Air Mobility Command organizations that formerly reported to 18th Air Force at Scott AFB, Ill. The center now oversees: the 87th Air Base Wing at McGuire, 628th ABW at JB Charleston, S.C., 627th Air Base Group at JB Lewis-McChord, Wash., 43rd Airlift Wing at Pope AFB, N.C., and 319th Air Refueling Wing at Grand Forks AFB, N.D. This realignment allows 18th AF to focus almost exclusively on worldwide mobility flying operations. It gives the center added responsibility for evolving AMC mission sets, while it retains it emphasis on expeditionary combat support training. “This realignment intends to better position AMC to successfully carry out its current mission and meet future challenges,” said Lt. Gen. Robert Allardice, 18th AF commander, who officiated the transfer-of-command ceremony. (McGuire report by TSgt. Zachary Wilson)
B-52 Stratofortresses popped up from the Middle East to North Africa to the Arctic in recent days, as the U.S. Air Force flexed the reach of its bomber fleet.