The Air Force has awarded a Bronze Star medal to SMSgt. Randal Williams for his actions on a year-long deployment to Iraq. Williams, who is superintendent of the 437th Force Support Squadron Military Personnel Flight at Charleston AFB, S.C., received his medal in July, according to a Dec. 16 release, after his return from Iraq where he served as superintendent and senior enlisted advisor for the Coalition Training Team, Multi-National Security Transition Command-Iraq. His efforts helped establish the Iraqi Training School, turning primitive working conditions and facilities into a functional training and education facility. (Charleston report by Trisha Gallaway)
U.S. Southern Command recently announced its first lethal strike on a suspected narco-trafficking vessel in two months, and the first under a newly formed permanent counter-cartel task force. The U.S. is also reportedly planning to transfer MQ-9 drones to Colombia to bolster its counter-cartel efforts.