Some Air Force C-130s flying out of Balad AB, Iraq, are not delivering supplies; instead they are flying members of the Joint Airborne Battle Staff to watch over convoy communications. The capability once was a haphazard affair, conducted by chance whenever an aircraft happened to fly over a convoy that was asking for help. Multi-National Force-Iraq created the JABS less than a year ago, reports Army Sgt. Alexandra Hemmerly-Brown. Now, the teams of Air Force, Army, and Navy personnel fly on the dedicated C-130 to monitor convoy communications and to relay calls wherever needed. Each team includes operators who monitor and relay communications and technicians who make equipment repairs if needed.
A new report by the Defense Department’s Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation found that Texas and Virginia are America’s top recipients of defense spending, some $83 billion and $64.3 billion, respectively. Texas and California top the spending categories for Air Force contracts and personnel, some $17 billion and $15…