Airmen from the 74th Fighter Squadron at Pope AFB, N.C., are in Iraq, forming the first A-10 Warthog unit to see duty in that theater since 2003, reports Air Force journalist 1st Lt. Landon Derentz. The 74th airmen have deployed to Al Asad Air Base in western Iraq, where they have formed the 438th Air Expeditionary Group and will work with a Marine Corps air unit to provide close air support in the Al Anbar province.
F-35As from the Vermont Air National Guard have deployed to Puerto Rico in recent days, continuing a major buildup of U.S. Air Force assets in Latin America aimed at combating drug trafficking and pressuring the regime of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro.

