Airmen of the 21st Space Wing’s 721st Mission Support Group at Cheyenne Mountain AFS, Colo., recently practiced “button-up” procedures—closing the mountain’s monstrous blast doors. “The blast doors are three-and-a-half feet thick, weigh 25 tons, and are normally closed by a hydraulic pump in 30 to 45 seconds,” says 1st Lt. Jeff Crepeau, 721st MSG executive officer. With muscle power alone, they can be closed in 4.5 minutes.
Pentagon Releases Cost of Living, BAH Rates for 2026
Dec. 30, 2025
The Pentagon will pay cost of living allowances to 127,000 service members in the continental U.S. in 2026, an increase of 66,000 members in 2025. Airmen and Guardians across the U.S. will also receive an average increase of 4.2 percent for their Basic Housing Allowance, compared to the 5.4 percent…

