More than 300 military members and civilians recently gathered at the Battle Command Training Center at Hickam AFB, Hawaii to begin the “capstone event” for Unified Engagement 2006. The Pacific Air Forces-led event, running through Wednesday, comprises participants from Australia, Canada, Great Britain, and the US. A PACAF news release says UE is held to “investigate emerging Air Force, sister service, joint, and multi-national operational concepts and capabilities, to learn how to prevent technological, strategic, and operational surprise, and to advance coordination among global security partners.” PACAF commander, Gen. Paul Hester, said the capstone event is set in 2018 to get out of “today’s inbox.”
Every year, Congress and the military debate which combat assets should head to the boneyard and which have more life left in them. Lawmakers often opt to keep Air Force systems that bring jobs to their districts, which complicates matters as the service looks to modernize and ditch certain platforms.…