TSgt. Cole Shebat and TSgt. Patrick (last name withheld at airman’s request), joint terminal air controllers with the New York Air National Guard’s 274th Air Support Operations Squadron at Hancock Field in Syracuse, have received Bronze Star medals. Each received the medal for meritorious service while deployed to separate locations in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. “I feel honored to receive the award, but there are others who are just as deserving,” said Shebat. Patrick added, “It’s strange to be commended just for doing your job. We do it because we like our job.” (Hancock report by 1st Lt. Greta Lewis)
Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Kenneth S. Wilsbach told lawmakers Apr. 30 that the service’s biggest airlifter, the C-5 Galaxy, has a 37 percent mission capable rate—one of several challenges facing the mobility fleet.