The Pentagon identified the soldier killed by an improvised explosive device on Oct. 4 in Nangarhar province, Afghanistan. SSgt. Adam S. Thomas, 31, was assigned to Company B, 2nd Battalion, 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne) at Fort Carson, Colo. Thomas was conducting a counterterrorism mission against ISIS alongside Afghan forces when the blast occurred. There were no other casualties. The incident is under investigation, according to the release.
The six-week government shutdown did not affect the hours flown by Air Force pilots, a service spokesperson told Air & Space Forces Magazine—avoiding what could have been a major blow at a time when flying hours are already lower than they have been in decades.
