The US military’s annual airlift and sea-transportation support of National Science Foundation scientific research in Antarctica concluded Feb. 28. Dubbed Operation Deep Freeze, the 2008-2009 season kicked off last September. Among the joint force contributions during the six-month-long season, Air Force C-17s flew 50 missions, moving 4.3 million pounds of material and 3,800 passengers. And, ski-equipped LC-130s flew more than 280 missions, delivering more than 8.7 million pounds of supplies and 2,000 passengers. “The movement of this cargo, fuel, and personnel for our interagency partners at the National Science Foundation is vital to their mission,” said Lt. Gen. Chip Utterback, commander of 13th Air Force at Hickam AFB, Hawaii, and head of Deep Freeze efforts as commander of Joint Task Force Support Forces Antarctica. He added, “We are, in many ways, the ‘lifeline’ for their people down on the ice.” Utterback said he “couldn’t be more proud” of the efforts of the entire Deep Freeze team this season. (Hickam report by Maj. Sam Highley)
More than seven weeks still remain until the 2023 fiscal year begins on Oct. 1, but observers of Congress are already warning that time is running out for lawmakers to pass the annual National Defense Authorization Act and appropriations bill that will fund the Pentagon before that deadline. Should Congress…