Some airmen in Southwest Asia call themselves “the ghosts of the base” when they perform escort duty—standing and watching silently—for local nationals working on coalition facilities, reports Air Force public affairs officer Maj. Ann Knabe. These airmen get two days training, then start their duty, often shepherding more than 300 “third country nationals,” or TCNs, on a typical day. On one day there may be as many as 150 airmen working as escorts. The TCNs, themselves, work at any number of jobs, including aiding security force efforts by identifying security breaches.
Billy Mitchell: Lessons a Hundred Years Hence
Dec. 16, 2025
Exactly 100 years ago, on Dec. 17, 1925, Brig. Gen. Billy Mitchell was convicted by court-martial for violating an order that required approval before he could engage with the media. Mitchell’s provocative thoughts and unorthodox methods sought attention for a cause that he saw as uniquely American.
