Maj. Darren Brumfield, currently assigned to Dyess AFB, Tex., and MSgt. William Rapoza of Lackland AFB, Tex., have each received a Bronze Star medal for their meritorious service during deployments to Afghanistan and Iraq, respectively. Brumfield, who commands Dyess’ 7th Component Maintenance Squadron, got his medal for his work in standing up the first Afghan Air Wing in Kandahar. He also oversaw the safe transport of 215,600 pounds of cargo and more than 1,800 Afghans. Rapoza, medical readiness noncommissioned officer-in-charge of Lackland’s 59th Medical Support Squadron, served as lead medic of a security forces squadron in Baghdad during the first half of 2010. The medal recognizes his medical support of operations outside the wire. Brumfield’s award ceremony took place on Sept. 28; Rapoza’s was on Oct. 14. (Dyess photo caption by A1C Chelsea Cummings) (Lackland photo caption by SSgt. Robert Barnett)
The total number of reported sexual assaults in the Department of the Air Force ticked up about two percent in 2024 while still trailing the total from 2022, as Pentagon officials say a hiring freeze on federal government civilian employees limits their ability to fill critical sexual assault prevention and…