The Air Force has awarded Bronze Star medals to two airmen and one military working dog. Capt. Jason Hamman, with the 78th Security Forces Squadron at Robins AFB, Ga., received the medal for his actions while deployed to Iraq to support the Army as the Joint Defense Operations Center battle captain, overseeing base defense operations. SSgt. Christopher Barker with the 3rd SFS at Elmendorf AFB, Alaska, received a Bronze Star for the work he and his MWD partner, Jack, performed while deployed to Iraq, where Barker and Jack discovered a cache of explosives—some 2,000 pounds spread over eight locations—rigged to blow through an anti-personnel mine, during one of their 350-hours’ worth of combat patrols.
Lawmakers are growing impatient for an overdue fighter recapitalization study from the Air Force, and members say they'll demand more detailed justifications for future aircraft retirements.