Air Force Magazine
Daily Report for March 13, 2020

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Edited by Amy McCullough with Brian W. Everstine and Jennifer-Leigh Oprihory

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U.S. Military Limits Travel as Coronavirus Starts to Impact USAF Bases, Airmen
By Brian W. Everstine

The U.S. military is severely limiting the movement of its personnel and
families as the new coronavirus outbreak spreads and more service members test
positive. The new guidelines, which go into effect on March 13, prohibit most
travel for 60 days to countries designated as Level 3 by the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention. This includes permanent change of station, temporary
duty, personal leave, and other travel. It also prohibits transfers in affected
countries. The announcement follows the World Health Organization's March 11
declaration that the disease caused by the coronavirus is now a pandemic.

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U.S. Launches Retaliatory Strikes Against Iranian-Backed Militias in Iraq
By Amy McCullough and Brian W. Everstine

The United States launched retaliatory strikes against five Iranian-backed
Kataib Hezbollah weapons storage facilities across Iraq, following the March 11
attack on Camp Taji that killed two Americans and one soldier from the United
Kingdom. "These strikes were defensive, proportional, and in direct response to
the threat posed by Iranian-backed Shia militia groups who continue to attack
bases hosting” coalition forces supporting Operation Inherent Resolve,
according to a Pentagon statement released March 12, which noted the facilities
housed weapons used to target U.S. and coalition troops.

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NORTHCOM Stresses Importance of F-15EX Buy for Homeland Defense
By Brian W. Everstine

The planned purchase of the F-15EX to replace aging fighters is needed to
maintain the homeland defense mission as aging F-15Cs continue to see
reliability issues, the head of U.S. Northern Command told lawmakers. USAF Gen.
Terrence O’Shaughnessy, commander of NORTHCOM and North American Aerospace
Defense Command, told the House Armed Services Committee on March 11 that newer
F-15EXs will bring on new capabilities for the mission, such as improved range,
the ability to carry more missiles, and improved radar capabilities.

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USAF Brings Pilot Training Next to Regular Training in Experimental Curriculum
By Jennifer-Leigh Oprihory

The Air Force is integrating lessons learned from its Pilot Training Next
initiative “into the regular pilot-training syllabus” to create an
experimental curriculum that will start this summer, 19th AF Commander Maj. Gen.
Craig Wills told Air Force Magazine. The ultimate vision for the effort is to
bring the experimental curriculum to all of USAF’s pilot training bases, AETC
Commander Lt. Gen. Brad Webb said. “When we look at our training systems for
pilots, effectively, we're using the same pilot training system today that we
were using 50 years ago,” Wills said. “The airplanes have changed a little
bit, but the basic system hasn't, and so the question is, is that right for the
best Air Force in the world? And we believe the answer is no.”

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USAF Continues to Address ‘Difficult Challenge’ of Ending Suicides
By Amy McCullough

The Air Force remains committed to curbing suicides and plans to hold more
resiliency stand downs so commanders can continue to connect with Airmen and
encourage them to seek help if necessary. USAF also is expanding its True North
program and embedding mental health providers and religious support personnel in
units across the force. “Leaders at all levels are needed to help reinforce
the notion that seeking help is a sign of strength and our Air and Space
professionals do not need to go it alone,” USAF leaders wrote in prepared
testimony to the Senate Armed Services personnel subcommittee on March 11.
“While suicide is a difficult and complex issue requiring complex solutions,
it is preventable and the DAF remains committed to leveraging the best ideas and
research to end the tragedy of suicide.”

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Correction

The article “5 Al-Shabab Members Killed in Single U.S. Airstrike in Somalia”
in yesterday’s Daily Report misstated the number of U.S. airstrikes conducted
in Somalia as of March 10. There have been six so far this month, bringing the
number of al-Shabab militants killed by U.S. airstrikes in Somalia in March into
the double-digits.

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Radar Sweep

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We’ve Got The Vaccine, Says Pentagon-Funded Company

A Canadian company says that it has produced a COVID-19 vaccine just 20 days
after receiving the coronavirus’s genetic sequence, using a unique technology
that they soon hope to submit for FDA approval.

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American Commandos to Hold Down the Fort in Afghanistan as U.S. Troops Withdraw

The commander of U.S. Central Command confirmed that American special operators
would serve as the main security force to combat terrorists and militants across
Afghanistan as U.S. troops begin to draw down.

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Pentagon 'Wishes to Reconsider' $10 Billion Contract Given to Microsoft over Amazon

The U.S. Department of Defense on March 12 said it wishes to re-evaluate its
decision to award the Pentagon's multibillion-dollar cloud contract to
Microsoft, signaling a potential victory for Amazon in its protest of the award.

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OPINION: America’s Bomber Force Is Too Small and Getting Smaller

“The Air Force entered the new decade with the smallest bomber force in its
history, and the FY21 budget request erodes it further,” writes retired USAF
Gen. John Michael Loh, a former Air Force vice chief of staff and former Air
Combat Command boss. “There comes a point where doing more with less does not
work, especially with B-21s not available in numbers for several years. It is
time to recognize the gravity of the situation and build up the nation’s
bomber force.”

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All-Domain Ops Require Rethinking Combatant Commands: Goldfein

"This is foundational to who we are," Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David
Goldfein says of the new all-domain operations warfighting concept.

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Well Contamination Near Dover Prompts Request for Air Force Brass Visit

Delaware’s congressional delegation is asking the Secretary of the Air Force
to visit Dover Air Force Base, Del., to address concerns about elevated levels
of chemical contaminants in wells near the military installation. State
environmental regulators were recently notified by base officials that two more
wells near the base may have levels of perfluorooctane sulfonate, or PFOS, and
perfluorooctanoic acid, or PFOA, above federal advisory levels of 70 parts per
trillion.

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Kessel Run Brings New Software to Vermont ANG Aircraft Maintainers

Vermont Air National Guard’s 158th Fighter Wing recently partnered with Kessel
Run to complete its first test and evaluation of their new software, a suite
known as Mad Hatter, at the Vermont ANG Base in South Burlington. In the course
of two weeks, Kessel Run personnel started with zero Mad Hatter users from the
Vermont ANG and grew to 78 user accounts at the 158th Maintenance Group. Airmen
were able to recover, service, and launch aircraft entirely using Mad Hatter
applications, resulting in 10 successful sorties flown.

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One More Thing...
World War II Superfortress Leader to Orchestrate 2020 Washington Flyover

Retired USAF Lt. Col. Bob Vaucher, who at 101 years of age will be the honorary
air boss for the 2020 Arsenal of Democracy Flyover of Washington, said his pilot
briefing will command the fighters, bombers, and escorts to “get in line and
stay in line.” The May 8 flyover of the nation's capital in honor of the 75th
anniversary of the end of World War II in the European theater won't be
Vaucher's first time commanding a group of warbirds. The centenarian led a
massive formation of 525 B–29 Superfortresses that overflew the USS Missouri
in Tokyo Bay as Japan officially surrendered to Allied forces on Sept. 2, 1945.

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