Lt. Gen. Gary North, commander of Air Forces Central, sent out a holiday message yesterday to the more than 25,000 airmen supporting operations in Afghanistan, Iraq, and elsewhere in the Middle East and Near East. “To all deployed airmen, thank you for your dedicated service,” stated North, also thanking the families and friends of these airmen for their “unwavering support and sacrifice.” North said these sacrifices “are appreciated by a grateful nation and are absolutely necessary to ensure the safety and security of millions of people in the US, the Middle East, and throughout the world. Simply put—‘Thank you!’” he said. These airmen, by serving away from home during the holiday season, like US servicemen in past conflicts, enable generations of Americans “to enjoy the holiday season and to enjoy your greatest gift to them—the gift of freedom,” North said.
How Miss America 2024 Took the Air Force Somewhere New
Dec. 20, 2024
When 2nd Lt. Madison Marsh became the first ever active service member crowned Miss America on Jan. 14, top Air Force officials recognized a rare opportunity to reach women and girls who otherwise might not consider military service as an option.