The Pentagon has identified an airman killed Oct. 14 by enemy gunfire while he was working with a military police training team in Iraq. He was A1C Leebernard E. Chavis, a security forces airman deployed from the 23rd Wing, Moody AFB, Ga., to the 732nd Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron at Balad AB, Iraq, according to an Air Force release. At the time of his death he was serving as a turret gunner with the Iraqi police near Baghdad.
The Air Force's mission capable rates declined again in fiscal 2024, indicating the service has work to do to adequately fund spares and maintenance. The F-22 fighter and B-1 bomber both were available less than half the time.