The Air Force has awarded Bronze Star medals to three Security Forces airmen at Misawa AB, Japan, for their actions in the war on terrorism. Maj. Scott Sanford deployed to Bagram AB, Afghanistan, where he commanded the 455th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron and led his unit in making force protection improvements. He also personally led a team that thwarted a suicide bomber. MSgt. Robert Briggs deployed to Iraq, where he led a joint team manning a Theater Internment Facility and served as the NCO in charge of a Quick Reaction Force that engaged an overwhelming force of detainees during 17 hostile situations. TSgt. Max Van Ausdal also served as NCO in charge of a QRF at an Iraq internment facility, where he managed more than 100 compound searches, finding hundreds of homemade weapons and thousands of items of intelligence value. He saved a detainee from death by his fellow inmates during a mass riot. (Misawa report by SrA. Laura McFarlane)
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth told NATO allies that the U.S. is embarking on a sweeping review of the American military presence in Europe. He also warned that the U.S. would cut American funds to the alliance’s operating budget if allies did not fulfill their commitment to boost military spending.…