From Jennifer H. Svan, Stars and Stripes:  The Air Force has merged two command and control units at Ramstein Air Base, with the new combined unit overseeing all U.S. air operations in Europe and Africa. But plans for a similar consolidation in the United States were abandoned, following intense political pressure by Congressmembers who argued keeping both U.S. facilities open would spare hundreds of jobs in Florida and Arizona.

In January, the Air Force announced it would combine four air operations centers — two in Germany and two in the States — as part of an Air Force-wide effort, directed by the Defense Department, to save billions of dollars.

At Ramstein, the mission of the 617th Air and Space Operations Center (AOC) was folded into the 603rd Air and Space Operations Center on Oct. 1. With the merger, the 603rd will oversee all U.S. air operations in Europe and Africa.

Plans to merge air operations centers at Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla., which supports NORAD and U.S. Northern Command, and Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., which supports U.S. Southern Command, meanwhile, were abruptly halted in late August.  (photo: USAF)

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