The Air Force has awarded a Bronze Star medal to SSgt. Tom Pilla, an Explosive Ordnance Disposal instructor with the 86th Construction and Training Squadron at Ramstein AB, Germany for his actions while deployed to Iraq. Pilla led an EOD team that supported Army units in Iraq, handling unexploded ordnance fired at the bases and improvised explosive devices off base. During one convoy operation that came under attack, Pilla’s team located and neutralized a second IED, while under fire, that enabled the entire convoy to move out of the attack area.
Aircraft readiness will suffer if Congress does not approve some $1.5 billion worth of spare parts the Air Force requested in its annual Unfunded Priorities List, sent to Capitol Hill last week, Chief of Staff Gen. David W. Allvin said.