SrA. Jonathan A.V. Yelner, who was killed April 29 when his vehicle struck an improvised explosive device near Bagram AB, Afghanistan, was awarded a Bronze Star medal posthumously May 8 during a memorial service at Ellsworth AFB, S.D. He was a weapons load crew member assigned to Ellsworth’s 28th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron. “Senior Airman Yelner was a valiant warrior who sacrificed his life for a noble cause,” Col. Peter Castor, vice commander of Ellsworth’s 28th Bomb Wing, said at the ceremony. “He lived the Air Force core values and was a true leader to us all.” (Ellsworth report by A1C Abigail Klein)
The Air Force is spending heavily on F-22 improvements through the end of the decade, suggesting it may not retire the jet in 2030 as it previously planned. New sensors, fuel tanks, communications, and electronic warfare systems are among the upgrades that comprise the package.