Whiteman Reservists Touch Down in Afghanistan: Airmen from Air Force Reserve Command’s 442nd Fighter Wing at Whiteman AFB, Mo., have arrived at Bagram AB, Afghanistan, with their A-10 Warthogs to conduct air-to-ground missions. The first six aircraft maintainers and pilots arrived last week as the advance party for an untold number of additional 442nd FW airmen. Some of these Reservists remember Bagram from a 2002 deployment, when they performed aircraft maintenance out of two tents. Now, there are “actual buildings,” said CMSgt. Steve Brazeal.
The roles and missions executed by Air Force warriors are essential to the nation’s security. Yet after three decades of constant demand and minimal replenishment, our Air Force is too small and too old. It needs to be rebuilt. The Trump administration and Congress must fund that modernization to ensure…