Five airmen assigned to Eglin AFB, Fla., on Monday received Bronze Star Medals for their meritorious service in Afghanistan and Iraq during a ceremony at the base. They are Lt. Col. Christopher Holmes, 96th Logistics Readiness Squadron commander; SMSgt. Eric West of the 96th Civil Engineer Group; TSgt. John Carroll, 96th Civil Engineer Squadron explosive ordinance technician; TSgt. Howard Loughran, 96th CES EOD technician; and SSgt. Lucas Dorosky, 96th CES EOD technician. It was Loughran’s second Bronze Star. A sixth airman, TSgt. Todd Kuikka, 96th CES EOD technician, was also awarded a Bronze Star, but was not present to receive it. (Eglin release by Leslie Brown) (See also Tuesday’s Northwest Florida Daily News report.)
The six-week government shutdown did not affect the hours flown by Air Force pilots, a service spokesperson told Air & Space Forces Magazine—avoiding what could have been a major blow at a time when flying hours are already lower than they have been in decades.
