The 494th Fighter Squadron wrapped up a month-long NATO tactical leadership program Oct. 7. Eight F-15E Strike Eagles and approximately 130 airmen from the 494th FS at RAF Lakenheath, England, trained with NATO partners at Los Llanos AB, Spain, beginning on Sept. 12 to prepare its flight leaders to become coalition air force mission commanders, according to a 48th Fighter Wing release. “The ability to be here, with multiple nations briefing, debriefing, planning for hours on end, and then seeing how that plan was executed, is extremely beneficial from a tactical and partnership standpoint,” said Capt. Brian Valichka, a 494th FS weapons systems officer, according to the release. “Seeing how other countries do business and then being able to show them how we do business, is the best way forward.” The program was formed by a memorandum of understanding between 10 NATO members: Spain, Belgium, Denmark, Italy, the Netherlands, Germany, Greece, Switzerland, France, United Kingdom, and the United States.
Pentagon Releases Cost of Living, BAH Rates for 2026
Dec. 30, 2025
The Pentagon will pay cost of living allowances to 127,000 service members in the continental U.S. in 2026, an increase of 66,000 members in 2025. Airmen and Guardians across the U.S. will also receive an average increase of 4.2 percent for their Basic Housing Allowance, compared to the 5.4 percent…
