Members of the Minnesota Air National Guard’s 148th Fighter Wing in Duluth are at Tyndall AFB, Fla., with their recently acquired F-16 Block 50 aircraft for two weeks of rigorous air-to-air and air-to-ground munitions training. Tyndall’s 53rd Weapons Evaluation Group sponsors these activities. “We came here to shoot missiles and drop live ordnance to be better prepared for our air sovereignty alert mission,” said Lt. Col. Reed Bowman, 148th FW Block 50 conversion officer. He added, “The training we receive here gives us confidence in our jets’ ability to perform.” The wing supports the Continental NORAD Region in protecting American skies from air threats. Last April, it began receiving its first F-16 Block 50 airframes. Fitted with more powerful engines and different internal avionics, they are more capable than the F-16 Block 25 airplanes they are replacing. (Tyndall report by Angela Pope)
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…
