Col. Michael Krueger, vice commander of the 22nd Air Refueling Wing at McConnell AFB, Kan., died March 3 on the base of unknown causes, Wichita’s KWCH TV News 12 reported yesterday. Krueger was found unconscious in his on-base home. He was rushed to the hospital but was pronounced dead, according to the news report. “He was a devoted husband, father, son, brother, and friend who epitomized the Air Force core values as a wingman, leader, and warrior, and he will be greatly missed by all the members of our Team McConnell family,” said Col. James Vechery, 22nd ARW commander. He added, “I’ve never known a finer person who wore the Air Force uniform.” Krueger’s Air Force biography states that he became the vice commander in May 2008. He joined the Air Force in 1985 and was a command pilot with more than 3,200 flight hours.
Amid a high-profile recruiting crisis, Air Force leaders and experts have increasingly noted the challenging long-term trends the service will face in enticing young Americans to sign up—decreasing eligibility to serve, less propensity to do so, and less familiarity with the military. But while those same leaders say there’s no “silver…