Airmen from the 74th Fighter Squadron at Pope AFB, N.C., are in Iraq, forming the first A-10 Warthog unit to see duty in that theater since 2003, reports Air Force journalist 1st Lt. Landon Derentz. The 74th airmen have deployed to Al Asad Air Base in western Iraq, where they have formed the 438th Air Expeditionary Group and will work with a Marine Corps air unit to provide close air support in the Al Anbar province.
The Air Force is requesting about $141 million for initial enlistment bonuses in its fiscal 2026 budget, while Space Force wants $13 million.