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)
Three of four congressional committees with influence over defense policy have voted to change the official name of the Department of Defense to the Department of War—but final approval of the Pentagon rebrand is months away and not yet assured.