Latest news with #KC-135
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
'Nobody is truly gone until they are forgotten': Residents remember the fallen on Memorial Day
May 27—VFW Post 447 Quarter Master Greg Sundholm encouraged those in attendance at the Memorial Day ceremony at Graceland Cemetery to remember those who have died in service of this country. "Nobody is truly gone until they are forgotten," Sundholm said during his remarks. Paraphrasing Gen. George S. Patton, Sundholm said it is wrong to mourn those who died — instead people should be thankful that they lived. The ceremony at Graceland Cemetery was one of several slated throughout the area at various cemeteries. The Honor Guard started the day at Lakewood Cemetery, followed by ceremonies at St. Theodore Catholic Cemetery, Hillcrest Cemetery and the Freeborn County veterans memorial. There was also the 53rd annual wreath drop ceremony on Fountain Lake by pilot Jim Hanson. Sundholm, who said he signed up for the delayed enlistment program in 1987 as a high school junior because he wanted to work on airplanes, left for basic training in December 1988. He said he was stationed to Strategic Air Command in upstate New York, where his primary job was nuclear deterrence. He later served in the 416th Bomb Wing, where he worked on B-52 bombers and KC-135 tankers, before Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait and he was ultimately deployed. He said when he left active duty, he joined the 934th Airlift Wing, looking for an aircraft job, but they didn't have one, so he then became a weapons instructor and armorer. He medically retired in 1997. 'As I learned in my time in the military, we build on traditions of the past for the future," Sundholm said, noting that he learned many lessons and gained a connection to those who are honored on Memorial Day. He said exposure to them gives him a desire to be better than they are they before at the very least. VFW Post 447 Cmdr. Bob Sharp read from an article he recently shared. He said in every society there are many callings — whether it be firefighters, teachers, caregivers or statesmen. But the path of the warrior is one of the most difficult. "Throughout history, warriors have been called upon to protect their families, communities and countries — to fight for others' safety and freedom, knowing that this path of service may include their life and the suffering of their loved ones." He said it requires courage, commitment and resilience and said no one desires peace more than the warriors and their families because they know the true cost of war. "These warriors have never sought war, but they never flinched when their country called," he said. "It's through their actions that we enjoy the blessings of liberty, and through the tears of their families that we have the freedoms we all take for granted." The ceremony also included a placing of the wreaths by representatives from area veterans organizations, as well as the Minnesota National Guard, Gold Star family Don and Deb Goodnature, and POW-MIA representative Al "Minnow" Brooks. There were also several musical selections by Debbie Nordland, along with a military medley, as well as a volley fire by the American Legion Post 56 Honor Guard and taps by bugler Ed Nelson of American Legion Post 56.
Newsweek
3 days ago
- Politics
- Newsweek
Satellite Image Shows US Air Power Buildup at Island Base Near Iran
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. New satellite images showed U.S. forces increasing their air power at an Indian Ocean base that could be a staging point for any attack on Iran, according to an open source intelligence analyst. Newsweek has reached out to the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command (INDOPACOM) for comment. Why It Matters Ongoing activity at the Diego Garcia airbase, a strategic operating location for both the U.K. and British armies, comes amid tensions with Iran over its nuclear program. Although nuclear talks continue, President Donald Trump has threatened military action if diplomacy fails to produce a new agreement on curbs that could prevent it obtaining nuclear weapons. Meanwhile, Iran has ramped up its military buildup, threatening U.S. targets in the region in the event of any attack. Imagery captured on May 24, 2025, by U.S. Landsat satellites shows U.S. military aircraft positioned at an air base on the island of Diego Garcia, part of the British Indian Ocean Territory. Imagery captured on May 24, 2025, by U.S. Landsat satellites shows U.S. military aircraft positioned at an air base on the island of Diego Garcia, part of the British Indian Ocean Territory. Landsat/Sentinel Hub What To Know The U.S. Air Force has recently augmented its aerial refueling capabilities at Diego Garcia, deploying additional KC-135 Stratotankers to the strategic Indian Ocean base, according to satellite imagery shared by open-source intelligence analyst MT Anderson on X. 🇺🇸NSF Diego Garcia🇺🇸 4x B-52s still operating out of Diego Garcia While resolution is too low for a positive ID, likely spot of 2-3x F-15s 7x Additional aircraft, likely to include KC-135, C-5M and potentially C-17 Src📷: @USGSLandsat 24 May 2025 — MT Anderson (@MT_Anderson) May 27, 2025 A recent deployment of F-15 fighter jets adds to a growing U.S. military buildup at Diego Garcia, where four B-52 bombers and a contingent of six B-2 stealth bombers operate. In March, satellite imagery showed the deployment of C-17 cargo planes as well as KC-135 refueling tankers. The remote airbase, over 2,000 miles away from Iran, hosts Space Force operations and is a key port for U.S. Navy vessels, including nuclear submarines, and shelters a Sealift Command Prepositioning Ship Squadron. Tehran has yet to unveil a platform capable of reaching that range, but as a significant missile power, it continues to make strides in expanding long-range capabilities. The status of Diego Garcia has recently been in question and the subject of heated political debate with Britain signing an agreement last week to had sovereignty of the contested Chagos islands — of which it is a part — to Mauritius. Britain says that the agreement will ensure the future of the air and naval base and allow its contimued use by the United States. What People Are Saying Commander Matthew Comer, Indo-Pacific Command spokesperson, told Newsweek earlier: "We have multi-layered defense systems on Diego Garcia that ensure the security and protection of our personnel and equipment." What Happens Next Beyond Iran, the continued U.S. buildup at Diego Garcia signals broader power projection with a potential view to threats in the Red Sea, activity by the Iranian-backed Houthis in Yemen and China's growing naval reach in the Indian Ocean.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
U.S. Air Force Academy announces commencement speaker for graduation
(U.S AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo.) — The U.S. Air Force Academy (USAFA) announced its commencement speaker for the Academy's Graduation Ceremony on Thursday, May 29. Secretary of the Air Force Troy E. Meink has been announced as the commencement speaker for the graduation that will occur at Falcon Stadium. Meink became the 27th Secretary of the Air Force on May 16, 2025. He is the Air Force's highest-ranking civilian leader, and advisor to the Secretary of Defense for air and space operations. 2025 U.S. Air Force Academy graduation: What you need to know Meink began his journey in the Air Force in 1988, and served as a KC-135, a Tanker Navigator and Instructor completing over 100 sorties in support of multiple combat and humanitarian operations. Then, as a lead test engineer for ballistic missile test vehicles for the Missile Defense Agency. Meink also led communication teams within the Air Force and National Reconnaissance Office as an Air Force civilian. His last assignment prior to being sworn as the Secretary of the Air Force was as the NRO's Principal Deputy Director. Graduation will take place on Thursday. The ceremony is open to ticket-holding members of the public for in-person attendance. USAFA's graduation will also be livestreamed online. Gates will open at 6 a.m., and the ceremony begins at 9 a.m. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Arab Times
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Arab Times
US Senate confirms Meink, former air crewman and space expert, as new Air Force secretary
WASHINGTON, May 14, (AP): The Senate on Tuesday easily confirmed Troy Meink as the secretary of the Air Force, putting a former KC-135 tanker aircraft navigator and space expert in charge of the service. The vote was 74-25. Meink has almost four decades of experience in the military and in government, including managing some of the nation's most sensitive satellite intelligence capabilities and the military's space portfolio. He previously served as a deputy of the National Reconnaissance Office. While he is the last of the military's three service secretaries to get confirmed, Meink is the one with the most extensive national security and military experience. "Your leadership is exactly what we need to refocus the Department of Defense on its core mission-lethality, readiness, and putting the warfighter first,' said Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said in a social media post. Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll served a short stint in the Army, but worked largely as a lawyer and investment banker. Navy Secretary John Phelan had been a private investment executive and businessman, and is the first leader of the sea service since 2006 not to have been a veteran. Meink assumes control of both the Air Force and US Space Force, which was established by President Donald Trump during his first term and just hit its fifth year in existence. And his confirmation comes as the Trump administration is working to reshape the nation's space capabilities, including the development of the "Golden Dome' missile defense system. The futuristic system was ordered by Trump during his first week in office. If successful, it would for the first time enable the US to place weapons in space that are meant to destroy ground-based missiles within seconds of launch. any countries, including Russia, China, North Korea and the US, are developing new ways to disable of defend the tens of thousands of satellites that ring the Earth as a way to cripple a potential adversary without fighting a traditional land-based war. Meink is from Lemmon, South Dakota, and joined the Air Force as an ROTC cadet at South Dakota State University in 1988. In his previous position at the National Reconnaissance Office, Meink oversaw a more than $15 billion budget to acquire new satellite capabilities.
14-05-2025
- Politics
Senate confirms Troy Meink, former air crewman and space expert, as the new Air Force secretary
WASHINGTON -- The Senate on Tuesday easily confirmed Troy Meink as the secretary of the Air Force, putting a former KC-135 tanker aircraft navigator and space expert in charge of the service. The vote was 74-25. Meink has almost four decades of experience in the military and in government, including managing some of the nation's most sensitive satellite intelligence capabilities and the military's space portfolio. He previously served as a deputy of the National Reconnaissance Office. While he is the last of the military's three service secretaries to get confirmed, Meink is the one with the most extensive national security and military experience. 'Your leadership is exactly what we need to refocus the Department of Defense on its core mission—lethality, readiness, and putting the warfighter first,' said Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said in a social media post. Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll served a short stint in the Army, but worked largely as a lawyer and investment banker. Navy Secretary John Phelan had been a private investment executive and businessman, and is the first leader of the sea service since 2006 not to have been a veteran. Meink assumes control of both the Air Force and U.S. Space Force, which was established by President Donald Trump during his first term and just hit its fifth year in existence. And his confirmation comes as the Trump administration is working to reshape the nation's space capabilities, including the development of the 'Golden Dome' missile defense system. The futuristic system was ordered by Trump during his first week in office. If successful, it would for the first time enable the U.S. to place weapons in space that are meant to destroy ground-based missiles within seconds of launch. Many countries, including Russia, China, North Korea and the U.S., are developing new ways to disable of defend the tens of thousands of satellites that ring the Earth as a way to cripple a potential adversary without fighting a traditional land-based war. Meink is from Lemmon, South Dakota, and joined the Air Force as an ROTC cadet at South Dakota State University in 1988. In his previous position at the National Reconnaissance Office, Meink oversaw a more than $15 billion budget to acquire new satellite capabilities.
