The U.S. Air Force provides weekly updates. Here are items from its reserve component notes:

AFRC/ANG: Airmen from the Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard have responded to recent wildfires in Hawaii, Alaska and Oregon. Support has come from C-17 Globemaster III crews in the Hawaii Air National Guard’s 154th Wing, who have transported firetrucks, crews and supplies from Oahu to Maui; firefighters in the Alaska Air Nation Guard’s 176th Civil Engineer Squadron, who deployed with a firetruck to combat fires in their state; and C-130 Hercules crews from the Wyoming Air National Guard’s 153rd Airlift Wing and the Air Force Reserve’s 302nd Airlift Wing in Colorado, who flew Modular Airborne Fire Fighting Systems (MAFFS) to combat fires in Oregon from the air.

The MAFFS contains a 3,000-gallon tank capable of shooting water or flame retardant from the C-130's rear parachute door. “The MAFFS aircraft play a pivotal role in combating wildfires, and their swift deployment to affected areas allows us to respond rapidly to emerging fire incidents,” said Col Barry Deibert (153 AW/CC). “Our primary goal is to enhance aircraft operations, ensuring the protection of lives and property, and providing unwavering support to the multi-agency firefighting response effort.”

AFCENT/AFRC: The Air Force Reserve’s 301st Fighter Wing will complete the wing’s last overseas deployment to Prince Sultan Air Base, Saudi Arabia flying the F-16 Fighting Falcon when they return to Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base, Fort Worth, Texas.

Upon their return, the F-16s from the 457th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron (EFS) will be dispersed between Nellis Air Force Base to be aggressors and Homestead Air Reserve Base to augment the 93rd Fighter Squadron fleet of F-16s.

“These F-16s have been part of our squadron for almost 30 years and have safely carried [our] pilots through thousands of combat sorties. However, air combat has evolved and we are grateful our squadron has been chosen to convert to the F-35.

We intend to carry the strong heritage of F-16 combat prowess forward to the new airplane,” said Lt. Col. David Snodgrass (457 EFS/CC). The fighter wing is scheduled to begin transitioning to the F-35 fifth-generation aircraft in 2024 which will make them the first Air Force Reserve Command unit equipped with F-35 Lightning IIs.

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