During a special ceremony last week at Randolph AFB, Tex., TSgt. Israel Del Toro, who had been severely burned after his vehicle hit an improvised explosive device during a 2005 deployment to Afghanistan, reenlisted even though he has a 100-percent disability rating. He was burned over 80 percent of his body and remained in a coma for three months, and, if he survived, doctors believed he would not walk again. Del Toro, who not only survived but also is running in 10K races, persisted for more than four years to remain in the active duty service. A medical board finally offered the Tactical Air Control Party airman two choices: medically retire and train TACP airmen as a civilian or remain in the service, training TACPs. He said, “I could have gotten out and made more money; but it wasn’t about the money.” (Randolph report by Sean Bowlin; also read ABC News report)
The Air Force kicked off one of its biggest exercises this week with the latest edition of Bamboo Eagle, featuring combined virtual and live training scenarios focused on test the command-and-control “nervous system” leaders need to operate on a complex joint battlefield spread over vast distances.
