The Air Force has awarded a Bronze Star medal to MSgt. Krisah Herron for her work as an explosive ordnance disposal team leader while deployed to the Multinational Force-Iraq in Baghdad. Herron, who is assigned to the 39th Air Base Wing at Incirlik AB, Turkey, responded to 37 emergencies over a 919-kilometer area that included dealing with 10 improvised explosive devices, 11 weapons caches, and three unexploded ordnance situations. (Incirlik photo release by SrA. Benjamin Wilson)
The new defense reconciliation bill includes $7.2 billion for Air Force and Navy aviation accounts, almost half of which will buy more F-15EXs. While electronic warfare, drones, connectivity and airlift all get attention, the F-35 was conspicuously absent from the package, with no explanation given.