Vice President Dick Cheney has made recent stops at two Air Force bases, where he thanked the airmen—active, Guard, and Reserve—and their families for their efforts in the Global War on Terror. At Charleston AFB, S.C., Cheney presented Bronze Stars to three airmen—CMSgt. Ronald Owens, CMSgt. Michael Schmiege, and TSgt. Carl McCoy. At Scott AFB, Ill., the Vice President helped conduct a mass re-enlistment of nine airmen and swear-in of a new recruit. A portion of his remarks were keyed to each base, including saying he was “familiar” with the work of Scott from his days as Secretary of Defense when he “had real power and influence.” (Read Charleston and Scott remarks.)
The Air Force hit its goal of recruiting 32,750 Active-Duty enlisted Airmen in fiscal 2026 five months early, leaders said this week—already the biggest such number the service has reached in more than two decades.