More than 100 marines returning to the United States from a tour in Afghanistan spent several days at the Air Force’s Deployment Transition Center at Ramstein AB, Germany, before completing the journey home. These marines of the 1st Explosives Ordnance Disposal Company from Camp Pendleton, Calif., were the first members of another service to go through the center, which opened last July, to help prepare airmen returning from combat to reintegrate into their lives back home. The center’s staff uses methods like guided group discussions and local sightseeing to allow the service members to decompress and share their experiences. Marine Chief Warrant Officer 2 Jason Perry, who worked with the marines at Ramstein, said it “was absolutely phenomenal” to see them transform “from completely wired coming right out of theater to finally relaxing” before reaching home. (Ramstein report by Capt. John Ross)
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.