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March 23, 2020 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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 A1C Keigan Baker, a special tactics combat controller from the 24th Special Operations Wing at Hurlburt Field, Fla., died March 19 in Panama City. He was 24. Air Force photo. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Hurlburt Combat Controller Dies During Training SwimA special tactics combat controller from the 24th Special Operations Wing at Hurlburt Field, Fla., died March 19 during a training swim in Panama City. The Airman has been identified as A1C Keigan Baker, 24, of Longview, Washington. Baker enlisted in the Air Force in 2018, and was in training as a Special Tactics combat controller apprentice. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
CENTCOM Stops Flow of Troops to Counter COVID-19U.S. Central Command has ordered a stop movement for all forces deploying to the Middle East to allow for a 14-day quarantine to counter the spread of the new coronavirus. Under the order, announced March 20, forces deploying to U.S. commands or coalitions in the area of responsibility will be quarantined for two weeks at their point of embarkation prior to the deployment “so that they will be cleared for duty upon arrival as a prudent precaution to maintain critical combat and combat support functions," CENTCOM said in a release. This will extend the deployments of some personnel while they wait for their replacements to clear quarantine. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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GI Bill Fix Will Keep Funds Flowing During PandemicPresident Donald Trump on March 21 signed a bill into law that will ensure GI Bill benefits aren’t suspended for college programs forced to switch to distance learning because of the COVID-19 pandemic. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Lawmakers Considering Remote Markup of NDAA BillThe House and Senate Armed Services Committees are scrambling to learn more about how the coronavirus pandemic could affect the U.S. military, while also trying to keep the major annual defense policy bill on track. “The committee is in constant contact with DOD about its response to coronavirus and how it can most effectively support the national COVID-19 response efforts,” SASC spokeswoman Marta Hernandez said. “We believe current authorities give the department the latitude it needs to respond appropriately.” HASC is planning an April 30 markup, typically a marathon session of debates over the core provisions and added amendments with all committee members in the room. Hernandez said SASC Chairman Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) still wants to mark up the Senate’s draft National Defense Authorization Act by the end of May, but the committee is considering running the markup remotely using teleworking software. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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EUCOM Trying to Maintain Readiness Despite Exercise CancellationsU.S. European Command has about 2,600 personnel in self-isolation and has curtailed its exercises because of the ongoing new coronavirus outbreak, but the head of the military in Europe says readiness will remain high for the foreseeable future. USAF Gen. Tod Wolters, EUCOM boss and NATO Supreme Allied Commander-Europe, said March 20 his command has watched the coronavirus outbreak spread throughout the continent for months now and is evolving its tactics, techniques, and procedures to try to counter the spread. “This is serious, serious business and for months we have embraced precautionary measures to safeguard the health of not only our personnel, but also of our communities and the mission,” Wolters said. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Air Force Depots Not Slowing DownThe Air Force’s depot maintenance activities continue unabated during the COVID-19 crisis, but Air Force Materiel Command is staying alert for supply chain issues that could affect throughput. “To date, no mission requirements have been impacted, and aircraft are still being inducted into the depots,” an AFMC spokeswoman said March 19. “Although we are monitoring for slowing of supply chain operations, we are not aware of any supply or material disruptions at this time,” she said. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
B-2s Fly With Dutch F-35s For First TimeTwo B-2s that are deployed to Europe as part of a bomber task force rotation flew alongside Royal Netherlands Air Force F-35As on March 18, marking the first time the stealth bomber flew alongside Dutch fifth-generation fighters. The bombers, deployed from Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo., to RAF Fairford, England, linked up with the F-35As for a familiarization flight over the North Sea. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Army, Navy Hypersonic Test Clears Way for Weapon DevelopmentThe Army and Navy jointly conducted a test of the Common Hypersonic Glide Body on March 19 over the Pacific Ocean. The test clears the way for design of an operational system to be ready by 2023. The Missile Defense Agency used the test to gather data it will use in its efforts to build defenses against hypersonic vehicles. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Farnborough, RIAT Airshows Canceled Indicating Long-Term Impact of COVID-19England's Farnborough International Airshow and Royal International Air Tattoo, both originally slated to take place in July, have been canceled due to the new coronavirus pandemic, indicating the outbreak may have a long-term impact on the global defense industry. “After very careful consideration, the unprecedented impact of the global coronavirus pandemic has forced this decision in the interests of the health and safety of our exhibitors, visitors, contractors, and staff,” wrote the Farnborough International Board of Directors in a March 20 letter posted to its website. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Published by the Air Force Association. |
