Iraqi air force officials have opened a new communications building, communications equipment facility, and medical clinic at New Al Muthana AB, Iraq. These buildings offer vastly improved capabilities for Iraqi airmen. “Seeing the Iraqi air force being built up, if only one building at a time, really highlights that we do see the fruits of our labors,” said TSgt. Amy Everhard, an air advisor with USAF’s 321st Air Expeditionary Wing. The communications facilities set the groundwork for Iraq-wide computer network connectivity, a vast improvement over the hand-carried letters that have been a primary means of communication for the Iraqi air force. The clinic features top-of-the-line, up-to-date medical equipment and the space to house patients for extended periods. Its emergency room gives the Iraqis the ability to treat wounded and injured without the help of outside agencies. (New Al Muthana report by TSgt. Randy Redman)
A provision in the fiscal 2025 defense policy bill will require the Defense Department to include the military occupational specialty of service members who die by suicide in its annual report on suicide deaths, though it remains to be seen how much data the department will actually disclose.