Air Force Global
Strike Command is increasing its rotary-wing personnel pool to allow for round-the-clock missile field security alerts once the current UH-1N Huey helicopter force is replaced. Transitioning to the future common vertical lift support platform “requires a plus-up in aircrews … to get to get to the point where we can have 24/7 operations,” Lt. Gen. James Kowalski, AFGSC commander told reporters at AFA’s Air & Space conference Wednesday afternoon. “We did a limited test period at Malmstrom to find out where the stress points were on crews, manning, and facilities,” added Kowalski. While AFGCS had yet to implement 24/7 alerts “in the traditional sense,” Malmstrom is taking a “look at what they’re going to need to bring up their 24/7 force structure,” he noted. Missile wings at F. E. Warren AFB, Wyo., and Minot AFB, N. D., are, or will be, running similar trials this year.
Walking the flight line occupied by Blackhawk attack helicopters and American troops on rotation at the “MK” air base in Romania, Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III highlighted the important strategic value of one of NATO’s newest members Oct. 20 ahead of NATO defense ministerial meetings in Brussels Oct. 21-22.…