Afghan Surge Prompts Mobility Records

Afghan Surge Prompts Mobility Records:

USAF mobility forces for the past four months have bettered their own records for cargo airdropped, while the overall pace for cargo and passengers delivered and aerial tanker fuel offloaded has soared from spring throughout the summer to meet increasing needs of operations in Afghanistan. In June, USAF airdropped a record 3.2 million pounds, followed by 3.3 million in July, 3.8 million in August, and 4.1 million last month. Army Chief Warrant Officer 3 James Wright in Afghanistan from the 101st Airborne commended USAF for "doing a great job" in providing "needed support to soldiers in the field." Other numbers: Cargo and passenger airlift jumped about 75 percent from February to March and has continued at an elevated pace, with an average of about 23,000 pounds and 34,000 passengers a month; aerial refuelers had offloaded 60 million pounds in February compared to 80 million pounds in September. (AMC report by TSgt. Scott Sturkol)

10/20/2009

Verbatim

Appreciative Host
"I know you're here during a difficult time. You're here through Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's. I promise you, we will find turkeys."
—Republic of Lithuania Chief of Defence Maj. Gen. Arvydas Pocius, expressing his thanks to airmen of the 493rd Fighter Squadron from RAF Lakenheath, Britain, who on Sept. 1, 2010, began a four-month stint with their F-15s in Lithuania to protect the airspace of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania under NATO's Baltic air policing mission.

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Family Momentum
"In many ways, this was what the Year of the Air Force Family was all about—connecting airmen and their families with the resources they need. I have confidence the Air Force will capitalize on this strong momentum in the years ahead by continuing to improve our family support programs and ensuring people know what resources are available."
—Suzie Schwartz, wife of USAF Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz, commenting on the accomplishments of the Year of the Air Force Family initiative that concluded in July, in a statement provided to the Daily Report, Aug. 22, 2010.