The Air Force recently asked one of its noncommissioned officers to stand up an expeditionary squadron—no sweat. TSgt. Lisa Bitton, a 13-year veteran, pulled together the makings for a new operations support squadron at Bagram AB, Afghanistan. Bitton deployed to Bagram from Minot AFB, N.D., where she serves as an aviation resource manager, two weeks ahead of the rest of the other unit members. She credits other airmen at Bagram with helping her arrange the location, communications, supplies, and vehicles necessary for the OSS to function. Bagram activated the unit to handle increased flight operations.
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.
