At Malmstrom AFB, Mont., three airmen have received Bronze Medals for their actions in Iraq. Maj. Lawrence King, chief of the 341st Space Wing command post, served a year in Iraq, setting up a strategic communications function and supported senior leaders during the Iraqi elections process. Capt. Jonathan Bennett, with the 741st Security Forces Squadron, managed a 10-man US military training team and 220 Iraqi soldiers, for a year and successfully overcame a convoy ambush with no coalition casualties. SrA. Charity Trueblood, 341st Logistics Readiness Squadron, saved a civilian truck driver when her convoy was attacked and aided the advance of the convoy amidst enemy fire.
Secretary of Defense Austin Lloyd III met with his counterparts from Australia, Japan and the Philippines to discuss bolstering defense ties on May 2. The discussion included plans for joint F-35 exercises with Japan and Australia in the coming years.