Service members are now authorized to wear service stars on their Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medals, according to a Feb. 9 Pentagon release. The stars represent deployments in support of Operations Enduring Freedom (Sept. 11, 2001-TBD), Iraqi Freedom (March 19, 2003-Aug. 31, 2010), Nomad Shadow—surveillance operations based from Turkey— (Nov. 5, 2007-TBD), New Dawn (Sept. 1, 2010-Dec. 31, 2011), and Inherent Resolve (June 15, 2014-TBD), states the release. Only one GWOT-EM can be awarded for each operation, so if a service member receives a second award for another approved operation, he or she would wear a single service star on the GWOT-EM to represent both medals. The change does not adjust criteria for either the Afghanistan Campaign Medal or the Iraq Campaign Medal.
The Air Force is placing Air Combat Command in charge of teaching combat tactics to fighter and remotely-piloted aircraft units, according to a May 12 announcement. Beginning this summer, the service will reassign the formal training units for the F-35, F-16, and MQ-9 from Air Education and Training Command to…