About 65 Air National Guardsmen with the New York ANG’s 102nd Rescue Squadron are using a deployment to Djibouti, Africa, with their HC-130 to practice their trade: dropping pararescue jumpers and refueling helicopters. They are working with Air Force and Marine elements that are part of the Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa. The ANG unit also has among its members an active duty pilot—1st Lt. Matt Stueck—who is on his first deployment. The 102nd RQS is helping to season Stueck and other active duty members.
The rate of building B-21 bombers would speed up if the fiscal 2026 defense budget passes. But it remains unclear how much capacity would be added, and whether the Air Force would simply build the bombers faster, or buy more.
