Two US service members died after coming under fire in the Kunduz province of Afghanistan Thursday, according to a Pentagon press release. Four other US service members were wounded in the same train, advise, and assist mission while assisting Afghan forces “to clear a Taliban position,” according to a statement by Secretary of Defense Ash Carter. The names of the US service members have not been released, pending next of kin notification. Afghan troops were also killed. “Today’s loss is heartbreaking and we offer our deepest condolences to the families and friends of our service members who lost their lives today,” said Gen. John Nicholson, commander of US Forces-Afghanistan and Operation Resolute Support, ?according to the Pentagon release. “Our wounded soldiers are receiving the best medical care possible and we are keeping them and their families in our thoughts today, as well.” The two deaths follow several that occurred in Afghanistan last month amid an eroding security situation. Two Americans, Army Sgt. Douglas J. Riney and civilian Michael G. Sauro, were killed in an Oct. 19 insider attack. Army SSgt. Adam S. Thomas, 31, was killed by an improvised explosive device on Oct. 4 in the Nangarhar province while conducting a counterterrorism mission against ISIS alongside Afghan forces.
The last remaining T-1 Jayhawk at JBSA-Randolph, Texas, took its final flight to the "Boneyard" at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., on July 15. The 99th Flying Training Squadron will train pilots using T-6 and simulator until it gets T-7 Red Hawk in fiscal 2026.