Air Force members are now engaged in the partial evacuation of Americans from war-wracked Lebanon. In a July 19 release, USAF said three Air Force MH-53 Pave Low helicopters are at work transporting US citizens from the Arab nation to Cyprus in the Mediterranean. The choppers are part of the 352nd Special Operations Group. They deployed from their home station, RAF Mildenhall in Britain, to Akrotiri, Cyprus several days ago. At McGuire AFB, N.J., a contingency response group is standing by for deployment to the area, said the release.
The Air Force is requesting about $141 million for initial enlistment bonuses in its fiscal 2026 budget, while Space Force wants $13 million.