Airmen with the 332nd Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron’s petroleum, oil, and lubricant flight at Balad AB, Iraq, have set a record for the highest number of gallons of fuel issued in a single month over the last three years: 3.6 million gallons of fuel by tank truck and R-11 refueling units to every type of aircraft that touched down at the base in January. They also issued more than 220,000 gallons of diesel fuel for support equipment and vehicles at Balad. The airmen refuel other services’ aircraft and vehicles, as well as non-military aircraft. Fuel use has ranged from three to 3.6 million gallons over the past three months.
Lloyd Austin, President-elect Joe Biden’s pick to lead the Pentagon, spent his Senate confirmation hearing on Jan. 19 pressing his civilian bona fides to lawmakers, with some pledging opposition to the waiver Austin would need to become the nation’s first Black Defense Secretary. Austin spent 40 years in the military…