The Air Force has awarded Bronze Star medals to two airmen with the 81st Transportation Squadron at Keesler AFB, Miss. for their actions in Southwest Asia. TSgt. Patrick Key served as a convoy commander and squad leader in Iraq, where he led 11 missions, comprising 143 military and 208 foreign drivers who covered 13,000 miles in hostile areas. His efforts were crucial to delivery of more than 5,610 tons of supplies, equipment, and ammunition to 10 forward operating bases in the midst of insurgent fighting. TSgt. John Smith also served as a convoy commander and squad leader, completing 31 convoy missions that delivered 2.4 tons of materiel to coalition forces in Afghanistan. His responses to improvised explosive device attacks aided transport of wounded and helped direct fire at attackers.
U.S. Southern Command recently announced its first lethal strike on a suspected narco-trafficking vessel in two months, and the first under a newly formed permanent counter-cartel task force. The U.S. is also reportedly planning to transfer MQ-9 drones to Colombia to bolster its counter-cartel efforts.