Amy Schlesing

New general in charge of airlift, refueler units

Command includes Jacksonville base

Gen. Raymond Johns Jr. took the helm of the Air Force’s largest major command Friday, the day after its busiest day in history when cargo planes and air refueling tankers flew more than 1,030 sorties around the world.
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Snipers shoot to win, learn at Fort Chaffee

Master Sgt. Bret Boatright knelt between the sniper and spotter on the edge of the Chinook helicopter’s back door Wednesday and prepared to give them the order to open fire as the helicopter hovered above a Fort Chaffee firing range.
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Afghan duty calls soldiers

State servicemen, families struggle with goodbyes

Mona Barrow rocked onto her toes as she searched the formation of soldiers for a final glimpse of her two sons, Sgt. Shane and Spc. Bruce Barrow.
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Afghanistan-bound soldiers’ final week in state is tough one

The first deployment of Arkansas National Guard troops to Afghanistan will begin in less than a week with teary goodbyes beside rumbling buses at the Jonesboro armory.
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Veterans kept in service now due pay

Stop-loss policy extended military stints to keep wars’ ranks filled

Veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars who were ordered to delay retirement or departure from the armed forces and deploy under the Pentagon’s “stop-loss policy” are now eligible for compensation for each month their service was extended.
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New airplanes lifting spirits at Guard wing

189th faces loss of avionics upgrade plan

The C-130 avionics upgrade program will be terminated with the passage of the current 2010 defense funding bills, but all is not lost for the 189th Airlift Wing of the Arkansas National Guard.
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Base goes west; 52nd activates

Adding squadron enhances its standing as C-130 leader

Lt. Col. Carlos Ortiz couldn't hide his enthusiasm Saturday as Col. David Kasberg passed the 52nd Airlift Squadron flag to him for the first time.
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Guard to teach Afghans to farm

More Arkansas soldiers to deploy

Another team of Arkansas National Guardsmen is headed to Afghanistan for a year, with deployment scheduled for late winter.
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Rise in troop suicides spurs prevention call

Maj. Gen. Bill Wofford on Friday said suicides this year have increased among his troops and asked the state's residents for help identifying soldiers and veterans struggling with mental stress or considering suicide.
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Full redo for C-130 rejected

Air Force advises: Pare avionics plan

U.S. Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz has recommended that the C-130 cargo plane avionics upgrade program be canceled and replaced with a less complex and cheaper upgrade of the fleet's air traffic control and defensive systems.
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