Four 
F-15s and about 130 airmen from the 493rd Fighter Squadron at RAF Lakenheath, Britain, recently deployed to Siauliai, Lithuania, where, as of Oct. 1, they are now protecting the air sovereignty of NATO members Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. “The United States is committed to the air sovereignty of its NATO allies and to ensuring the regional peace and stability for these countries,” said Lt. Col. Michael King, the unit’s commander. The squadron took over the air-policing mission from the German Air Force. NATO members have been providing aircraft to protect Baltic airspace since 2004. This is the second time the US has provided support for this mission. (Siauliai report by TSgt. J. LaVoie)
Active-duty transgender troops have until June 6 to self-identify and begin the voluntary separation process or wait and risk possible involuntary separation later—even as questions linger over how that decision might affect their security clearances for future employment.