SSgt. Kenneth Wilburn, a combat controller apprentice from Union, S.C., who died Jan. 12 after losing consciousness three days earlier during water skills training at Lackland AFB, Tex., suffered a cardiac arrest, which led to irreversible brain injury, according to the findings of Air Combat Command’s investigation into his death. ACC released these findings on Tuesday. Wilburn, assigned to Lackland’s 342nd Training Squadron, lost consciousness Jan. 9 while treading water in a training pool. He did not respond to emergency life-saving efforts on the scene and never regained consciousness at Wilford Hall Medical Center. He was removed from life support three days later. He was 30. (ACC’s release) (Accident investigation board report; caution, large file)
The U.S. military is sending more fighter jets to the Middle East to step up its war with Iran, adding to what is already the largest buildup of airpower in the region since the 2003 invasion of Iraq. For now, the operation shows little sign of coming to a quick…