Airmen and F-16s from the Alabama National Guard’s 100th Fighter Squadron in Montgomery touched down at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, on a six-month combat deployment, according to a Bagram release. This mark’s the unit’s first tour in Afghanistan, states the May 2 release. First Lt. Samuel Kniskern, 100th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron intelligence officer in charge, said the Alabama air guardsmen will serve the entire six-month rotation, something unusual for Air Guard units, which usually swap out more frequently. The F-16s arrived on April 27. These airmen will provide over-watch and close air support during their time at Bagram. “I think morale is pretty high; everyone realizes it is a six-month deployment and we are all digging in together,” said Kniskern. (Bagram report by SSgt. Evelyn Chavez)
Watchdog Says Military Can Make Cyber Ops More Efficient
Sept. 17, 2025
The Government Accountability Office called for paring down the military's sprawling cyber enterprise in a recent report, amid renewed discussion about standing up a separate cyber force.
