Roy Vaughn, an Air Force Special Operations Command exercise planner, was awarded the Polish Armed Forces Medal during a ceremony in Warsaw last week for his help integrating Polish special operations forces with the US-based exercise Emerald Warrior, states an AFSOC release. The exercise practices an “air-centric” approach to special operations that leads to “improved wartime interoperability among partner nations,” according to the May 9 release. “The actions and assistance provided by Mr. Vaughn have helped ensure the security of Poland,” said Col. Piotr Gastal, commander of Poland’s operational maneuver response group. “With his help, the [group] has become an effective partner in Iraq, Afghanistan, and throughout the other regions where we are engaged in battle.”
As many as 11 U.S. Air Force bombers—plus additional support aircraft—have arrived at bases in Europe as Pentagon leaders promise to ramp up bombing runs over Iran as part of Operation Epic Fury.