The Air Force has awarded Bronze Star medals to two airmen with the 81st Transportation Squadron at Keesler AFB, Miss. for their actions in Southwest Asia. TSgt. Patrick Key served as a convoy commander and squad leader in Iraq, where he led 11 missions, comprising 143 military and 208 foreign drivers who covered 13,000 miles in hostile areas. His efforts were crucial to delivery of more than 5,610 tons of supplies, equipment, and ammunition to 10 forward operating bases in the midst of insurgent fighting. TSgt. John Smith also served as a convoy commander and squad leader, completing 31 convoy missions that delivered 2.4 tons of materiel to coalition forces in Afghanistan. His responses to improvised explosive device attacks aided transport of wounded and helped direct fire at attackers.
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.
