A-10 Belly Landing at Moody | ID Cards Delayed Due to COVID-19

April 9, 2020

Edited by Amy McCullough with Rachel S. Cohen, Brian W. Everstine and Jennifer-Leigh Oprihory

An A-10C Thunderbolt II sits on the runway after making an emergency landing on April 7, 2020 at Moody Air Force Base, Ga. The A-10, assigned to the 75th Fighter Squadron, landed with its landing gear in the up position after declaring an in-flight emergency. Air Force photo by Andrea Jenkins.

Moody A-10 Makes Emergency Wheels-Up Landing

By Brian W. Everstine

An A-10 pilot was uninjured when a Warthog made an emergency belly landing April 7 at Moody AFB, Ga. The A-10 from the 75th Fighter Squadron was flying a routine training mission when the pilot declared an in-flight emergency. The pilot returned to base and the aircraft’s landing gear did not retract, forcing it to land and skid to a stop on Moody’s primary runway.

How Lakenheath is Fighting COVID-19 and Keeping its Eagles Flying

By Brian W. Everstine

When the Air Force needs combat aircraft to rapidly deploy, the F-15s and Airmen of the Liberty Wing at RAF Lakenheath, England, are often the first to respond. So when the new coronavirus outbreak hit the base, it required a quick and evolving response to keep the Eagles and Strike Eagles flying and ready. “The COVID-19 response has been a significant event for everybody involved,” Col. William Marshall, commander of the 48th Fighter Wing at Lakenheath, said in an interview. “Here at the Liberty Wing, our key task has been to balance the protection of our force, along with ensuring that we can continue to provide the combat airpower.” The base built up new medical infrastructure and processes to address coronavirus, and with social distancing rules and other mitigation steps has seen a drop in cases.

DOD ID Offices Go Remote, Delay Card Expiration

By Rachel S. Cohen

More than 1,600 Defense Department identification offices push out about 18,000 to 20,000 cards each day that allow everything from base access to health care services. To cut down on the number of people visiting those offices during the coronavirus pandemic, DOD is revising its rules on ID cards until Sept. 30. “Remote USID card renewals and reissuance shall be expanded,” the document states. “Remote family member enrollment/eligibility updates are authorized. Remote USID card initial issuance for first-time card issuance or replacement of a lost/stolen ID is authorized. All remotely issued USID cards shall be issued with an expiration date not to exceed one year from the date of issuance.”

Guard Sees Increase in COVID-19 Cases

By Jennifer-Leigh Oprihory

The Guard has begun to see COVID-19 cases among civilians, contractors, and dependents, National Guard Bureau Chief Air Force Gen. Joseph Lengyel confirmed on April 8. In addition to 349 cases recorded among Guard personnel as of the afternoon briefing, Lengyel said at least four civilians, three contractors, and 13 dependents have tested positive for the new coronavirus. He added that the actual number of infected individuals from those populations might be higher than the Guard statistics reflect.

Overseas Directed-Energy Demonstration Underway

By Rachel S. Cohen

The Air Force Research Laboratory announced April 6 it has kicked off its overseas demonstration of directed-energy weapons dispatched to take down threatening unmanned aircraft. While the demo has long been in the works, AFRL revealed that its Tactical High-Power Operational Responder (THOR) system will join four Raytheon-built laser and microwave weapons in the assessment. Microwaves interfere with a small drone’s electronics to stop or redirect them, while lasers burn a hole in the fuselage. “THOR is a directed energy game-changer,” Kelly Hammett, AFRL’s directed-energy director, said in a release. The service is not disclosing where the tests will take place, though the systems could become a permanent fixture there if they succeed.

Virtual Events: DOD COVID-19 Town Hall and More

By Jennifer-Leigh Oprihory

Today's events include a Defense Department COVID-19 virtual town hall with Defense Secretary Mark Esper, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Army Gen. Mark Milley, and Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Ramón "CZ" Colón-López at 10:30 a.m. EDT, as well as a virtual town hall with leaders from the 914th Air Refueling Wing.

Radar Sweep

Snapshot: DOD and COVID-19

Air Force Magazine

Here's a look at how the Defense Department is being impacted by and responding to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Pentagon Delays Budget Deadline to Help Staff Work from Home

Defense One

The Pentagon is adjusting its internal budget review process so that more military and civilian personnel can work from home amid the coronavirus pandemic, Defense One has learned. Instead of requiring the service branches to provide detailed budget requests for fiscal 2022 on June 1, Deputy Defense Secretary David Norquist says each branch needs to submit only “major program change proposals” on that date.

Raymond: Space Force Acquisition Proposals Are about ‘Going Fast’

Space News

Raymond said he is "concerned with our ability to stay ahead of the threat."

Trump Removes Acting Pentagon IG Slated to Lead Pandemic Oversight

Government Executive

President Donald Trump has removed the acting Pentagon inspector general from his position, thus stripping him of his ability to lead the committee overseeing the government’s pandemic response.

Security Lapses at US Military Hospitals Put Staff, Patients at Risk, IG Finds

Military.com

Lax security controls at U.S. military hospitals and clinics threaten lives and leave facilities vulnerable to criminal activities such as theft, damage, and terrorism, according to a new investigation by the Defense Department Inspector General.

‘You Are Justified in Being Angry with Me’—Read the Acting SECNAV’s Final Memo to the Fleet

Navy Times

As his last act as acting Navy Secretary—before James McPherson, who was confirmed as the Army’s number two official just 15 days ago, takes over the newly vacated role—Thomas Modly distributed one final memo to the fleet.

Sailor Aboard 4th U.S. Aircraft Carrier Tests Positive for Coronavirus

Politico

A sailor assigned to the USS Nimitz, a Bremerton, Wash.-based aircraft carrier, tested positive for COVID-19 last week after experiencing symptoms while on board the ship, according to three defense officials familiar with the matter.

Pamela Powers Tapped to Perform Duties as VA’s No.2

FedScoop

President Donald Trump has selected Pamela Powers to perform the duties of the deputy secretary of the Veterans Affairs Department—the highest accountable official on the department’s massive electronic health record modernization program.

Rapid Acquisition & Sustainment

Air Force Magazine

The Air Force and U.S. defense establishment are breaking down barriers and injecting speed, innovation, and creativity into the procurement system. Check out our new page to learn more about these efforts.

Precision Airstrike Eliminated al-Shabab Senior Leader

AFRICOM release

U.S. Africa Command post-strike assessments confirm that one of the three terrorists killed in the command's April 2 precision airstrike was a long-standing, high-ranking leader in the al-Shabab terrorist organization.

One More Thing

419th Fighter Wing Hosts F-35 Virtual Field Trip

419th Fighter Wing on YouTube

With closures at schools across the nation due to COVID-19, the 419th Fighter Wing invited students to use their computers or cellphones to “visit” for a virtual field trip to see the Air Force’s newest fighter, the F-35 Lightning II via a video recorded by 419th FW Vice Commander Col. Brian Silkey. “We thought it would be fun to use the technology we have at our fingertips to bring the F-35 to them,” he said. “Ultimately, we want them to know we’re all in this together and we hope that some are inspired to follow their dreams to serve in the U.S. military.”