Deploy five of USAF’s metal technicians from various US home stations, arm them at Balad AB, Iraq with welding irons, drill presses and other tools, then, step back. Tapping a hefty dose of resourcefulness, the airmen of the 332nd Expeditionary Maintenance Squadron not only fix aircraft parts to keep F-16s flying, but also manufacture “must have” blast plating for bomb disposal technicians, and brackets for Army helicopter blades, reports the Red Tail Flyer. They can make workstations for radar approach and control, and fabricate parts needed for all USAF aircraft in the combat zone. “The different kinds of customers we have definitely keeps us busy,” said SrA. Daniel Lindsay, a South Dakota Air National Guardsman.
Army Building Up New Space Operations Branch
Oct. 15, 2026
The Army has long been dependent on space capabilities to navigate terrain, communicate in hard-to-reach areas, and identify and strike targets. Now, the service wants to deepen its space operations expertise and is making plans to expand its own cadre of operators in the coming years.