The Air Force has awarded the Bronze Star Medal with Valor to SSgt. Jason Kimberling for his efforts in Qalat Province in Afghanistan. The Army has presented the airman with its Commendation Medal. Kimberling, who serves with the 366th Security Forces Squadron at Mountain Home AFB, Idaho, deployed to Afghanistan in 2006, working as part of a three-man security forces convoy team. The team came to the assistance of 15 Afghan National Policemen and 20 Afghan National Army soldiers when they came under attack from more than 100 Taliban fighters. SrA. Megan Lyon reports that Kimberling’s quick action in killing two of the Taliban fighters enabled the Afghan forces to maneuver around the enemy attempting to split the coalition convoy.
The 301st Fighter Wing in Fort Worth, Texas, became the first standalone Reserve unit in the Air Force to get its own F-35s, welcoming the first fighter Nov. 5.