Army National Guard (ANG): The Department of the Air Force selected Warfield Air National Guard Base (ANGB) as the preferred location to transition from an A-10 Thunderbolt II to a cyber wing mission.

Replacing the aging A-10 Thunderbolt IIs at the 175th Fighter Wing with a cyber mission will create a natural synergy between cyber assets at Fort George G. Meade and the 175th Cyberspace Operations Group already operating out of Warfield ANGB.

The move will also align the Maryland Air National Guard with an enduring modern mission that meets the requirements of the National Defense Strategy. The divestiture is scheduled to begin this fall and will not preclude Warfield ANGB from being considered for other potential missions in the future.

• The Pacific Air Forces commander discussed expanding use of military and civilian airfields in the Pacific. Gen. Kevin Schneider (PACAF/CC) stated that he can see it more about locations, where the Air Force has permission for access, basing and overflight when needed, said. “There are a lot of airfields around the Pacific, some of them that haven’t been used in years, and we’re reclaiming and doing efforts to restore some of those,” said Schneider. “It helps us gain an ability to operate, whatever the environment, whatever the situation.”
• US and South Korean Airmen began a five-day combat drill Monday to bolster defense against aerial threats. The exercise, known as Ssangmae Training, kicked off alongside the 11-day joint military exercise, Freedom Shield, aimed at countering North Korean provocations. Service members from Australia, Belgium, Canada, Colombia, France, Great Britain, Greece, Italy, New Zealand, the Philippines and Thailand also participated in the exercise. Freedom Shield, which focuses on combined, multi-domain operations with land, air, sea, and non-kinetic assets, is the latest example of the ironclad commitment to support and defend the Republic of Korea sovereignty from any threat or adversary.

PACAF/ANG:

• US Air Force F-35 Lightning IIs from Eielson Air Force Base arrived for a community event at Rimba Air Base, Brunei. Members of the Royal Brunei Air Force and Brunei US Embassy saw a static display of the first US Air Force F-35 to land in Brunei. This year marks 40 years since the United States established diplomatic relations with Brunei Darussalam. The arrival of the aircraft also coincided with an official visit from Maj. Gen. Mark Weber (ANG assistant to COMPACAF) and Jedidiah Royal (SecDef principal deputy assistant).