The Richmond International Raceway will host the first-ever Air Guard 400 NASCAR race Sept. 11. The Air National Guard is sponsoring the race to raise public awareness of its citizen airmen and the services they perform. The race is one of two at Richmond during NASCAR’s doubleheader weekend Sept. 10-11. It will include the #26 Air Guard car driven by David Stremme. “The Air Guard has about a one percent awareness rating across the nation,” said MSgt. Matt Leas, noncommissioned officer in charge of ANG advertising. He added, “That means that 99 percent of Americans don’t know about the opportunities that are available in their communities. This is one way to get that message out.” The Air Force Recruiting Service has also partnered with the professional race circuit in the past. (Richmond report by Army SSgt. Andrew H. Owen)
The lack of training ranges and airspace in Japan are making it difficult for U.S. aircrews to maintain readiness during the pandemic, the head of U.S. forces in Japan said. U.S. and Japanese aircraft and personnel need to leave the country for high-end training, often traveling to major exercise such…