Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz last week visited Little Rock AFB, Ark., to meet with airmen and see first-hand the damage caused by the recent tornado. “You have 20 aircraft downrange and 1,000 people deployed, and you took care of the families who lost their homes,” said Schwartz. “That’s something to be proud of.” The tornado ripped through the base on April 25, damaging more than 40 homes and three C-130s, among its destruction. Three airmen sustained minor injuries. Despite the disruption, Little Rock airmen and C-130s began deploying to Southwest Asia just three days later to support operations in Afghanistan and Iraq. During the May 4-5 visit, Schwartz and his wife, Suzie, a native of Jacksonville, Ark., met with SSgt. Eric Bramblett, who lost his home to the tornado. Bramblett was in Iraq when it struck. (Little Rock report by TSgt. Juan Torres)
F-35As from the Vermont Air National Guard have deployed to Puerto Rico in recent days, continuing a major buildup of U.S. Air Force assets in Latin America aimed at combating drug trafficking and pressuring the regime of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro.
