The Air Force plans in January 2009 to deploy 24 F-22 Raptors to locations in the Pacific region. Air Combat Command will dispatch 12 F-22s and some 500 airmen from Langley AFB, Va., to Kadena AB, Japan, on the island of Okinawa, and Pacific Air Forces will send another 12 Raptors from Elmendorf AFB, Alaska, to Andersen AFB, Guam. The F-22 packages are expected to remain in the Pacific for three months. The newly formed F-22 force at Elmendorf first deployed to Andersen in summer 2008. A contingent of F-22s from Langley deployed to Okinawa in early 2007. (Langley report; PACAF report)
Airmen basic rarely go on to become four-star generals, but one who did retired last week after a 42 year career that saw him rise from a lowly slick-sleeve to the head of one of the Air Force’s most important major commands.