Officials of 17th Air Force set up a two-week trip for 12 Tennessee Air National Guard aircraft maintainers to assist the Nigerian Air Force by demonstrating how to repair one of its C-130 Hercules transports. Nigeria has eight Herks but only had one in service. The Air Guardsmen from the 118th Airlift Wing at Nashville have done a “terrific job in helping us partner with this key African nation,” said Lt. Col. David MacKenzie, deputy director of 17th AF’s plans and programs directorate, who noted that this endeavor was the “biggest military-to-military exchange event we’ve done in 2009.” The Tennessee airmen, all volunteers for the work, showed the Nigerian airmen how to make engine and propeller changes that would make the C-130s airworthy for a trip to a European aircraft repair depot for more extensive repairs. (17th AF release by TSgt. Alec Lloyd)
Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III visited Tbilisi, Georgia on Oct. 18 ahead of the NATO ministerial meetings in Brussels Oct. 21-22, and assured the aspiring NATO member that the U.S. is at its side. During the visit, Austin signed a defense memorandum to enhance deterrence amid continued Russian hybrid…