Some 300 airmen and a complement of F-16Cs from the South Carolina Air National Guard’s 169th Fighter Wing at McEntire ANGS, S.C., are deploying to Kadena AB, Japan, on the island of Okinawa, reports the Associated Press news service. They plan to stay for six weeks, during which they’ll train with Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps elements in the US Pacific Command region.
The Air Force is requesting about $141 million for initial enlistment bonuses in its fiscal 2026 budget, while Space Force wants $13 million.