The Utah Congressional delegation has announced that the Ogden Air Logistics Center at Hill AFB, Utah, will handle depot maintenance for key components of the MQ-1 Predator and MQ-9 Reaper unmanned aerial vehicles. An earlier announcement about winning this work turned out to be premature, but the Utah lawmakers say, this time, USAF “has officially confirmed” the news. In the release, Sen. Orrin Hatch (R) said, “The Air Force’s decision to make Hill a leader in maintaining this important surveillance and weapons system is a tribute to the base’s outstanding depot maintenance program and hardworking and highly skilled workforce.” Sen. Bob Bennett (R) added, “UAV’s are among the most successful weapons in fighting terrorism, and I am pleased that such valuable tools are making their way to Hill.” The release, from Hatch’s office, lists the subsystems that the Ogden ALC will handle for the MQ-1 and MQ-9, and it includes another list of components for the high-flying RQ-4 Global Hawk that USAF has directed to Ogden.
Airmen and Guardians in the Active and Reserve component, as well as civilian employees, in “mission critical and high-risk populations” are now required to receive influenza vaccinations annually to “preserve force readiness,” according to a recent Department of the Air Force memo.