SMSgt. John Dick Jr., an electrical power production chief with the 796th Civil Engineering Squadron at Eglin AFB, Fla., recently earned the Bronze Star in recognition for his work in Tikrit, Iraq. Dick worked with the Army’s 101st Airborne Division to ensure the continuous operation of 15 power stations, which provide 41 percent of Iraq’s generating capacity. He directed 45 construction projects to improve the Iraqi electrical power grid. The Eglin Eagle reports that Dick and his crew repaired the “mother of all generators” in Kirkuk, enabling 300,000 Iraqi homes to get power.
The Air Force is requesting about $141 million for initial enlistment bonuses in its fiscal 2026 budget, while Space Force wants $13 million.
