The Pentagon on Thursday identified the airman who died in Syria earlier this week as SSgt. Austin Bieren. Bieren, 25, of Umatilla, Ore., died March 28 in northern Syria of reported natural causes. He was assigned to the 21st Space Wing at Peterson AFB, Colo., and was deployed in support of combat operations, according to a Defense Department statement. Bieren is the second US service member to die in Syria during Operation Inherent Resolve, following the November death of Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal technician Senior Chief Petty Officer Scott Cooper Dayton.
The Space Force welcomed its first officers trained in a way far different from decades of Air Force practice late last month. Eighty-four space professionals graduated from the Space Force’s first Officer Training Course on Aug. 28, a yearlong program in which Guardians were trained in all aspects of the service’s…
