SSgt. Shaun Meadows on June 15 became the first active duty airman to complete a parachute jump after losing both legs in combat. Meadows is a combat controller assigned to the 22nd Special Tactics Squadron at JB Lewis-McChord, Wash. He lost both legs to an improvised explosive device blast during a reconnaissance patrol in Afghanistan in July 2008. “Everything went well today,” said Meadows after finishing the jump. He added, “It felt good to get up there and jump again after two years.” The June 15 jump was a practice run that Meadows made along with 39 colleagues in preparation for a change of command ceremony for his unit. Meadows will participate in the ceremony, which will be his last jump before he separates from the Air Force. (Lewis-McChord report by Amn. Leah Young)
Pentagon Releases Cost of Living, BAH Rates for 2026
Dec. 30, 2025
The Pentagon will pay cost of living allowances to 127,000 service members in the continental U.S. in 2026, an increase of 66,000 members in 2025. Airmen and Guardians across the U.S. will also receive an average increase of 4.2 percent for their Basic Housing Allowance, compared to the 5.4 percent…
