MSgt. Kory Duarte, supply section chief for the 325th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron at Tyndall AFB, Fla., on June 23 received a Bronze Star medal for his meritorious service during a year-long deployment to Afghanistan that concluded in May. During his tour, he mentored Afghan National Army soldiers. Duarte said he was “privileged” to receive the Bronze Star and thanked the airmen he worked with during his year-long deployment. Among his accomplishments Duarte executed 171 combat patrols covering more than 3,600 miles through austere and hostile terrain. (Tyndall report by SrA. Anthony J. Hyatt)
The Air Force wants to pump more than $12 billion over the next five years into its new affordable long-range missiles program and recently asked industry to push the flights of some of those munitions beyond 1,200 miles.