An airman assigned to the 19th Aerospace Medicine Squadron at Kadena AB, Japan, was killed during a scuba diving accident off the island of Okinawa, according to an Oct. 22 release. TSgt. Jason McIlvaine, 42, was diving near Serakaki Village, Okinawa City, when two other airmen noticed he was in distress. The airmen brought him to the surface, but McIlvaine was not breathing. The airmen performed CPR until local first responders arrived, and McIlvaine was moved by helicopter to a local hospital in Nakagami, but doctors were unable to revive him. McIlvaine’s death comes weeks after three airmen from Robins AFB, Ga., who were deployed to Kadena on a temporary duty assignment, were killed after being swept out to sea in the aftermath of Typhoon Phanfone, prompting a multi-day search.
2026 NDAA: 5 Highlights for Airmen and Guardians
Dec. 18, 2025
President Donald Trump signed the 2026 National Defense Authorization Act on Dec. 18, a day after Congress passed the annual defense policy bill for the 65th consecutive year. Here’s what it means for the Air Force and Space Force.

