An airman died last week during Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape training at JBSA-Camp Bullis, Texas, the Air Force announced Tuesday. A1C Kenneth Sturgill, assigned to the 66th Training Squadron, was found unresponsive Thursday—the day before he was to finish his 19 days of training—when his instructors performed a routine safety check, according to an Air Education and Training Command release. Military and civilian first responders’ attempts to revive him were unsuccessful. “Our thoughts and prayers are with Airman Sturgill’s family and friends during this very difficult time,” said Lt. Col. Clint Rea, commander of the 66th Training Squadron, according to the release. “We will continue to offer them all of our support.” The cause of Sturgill’s death is under investigation. Sturgill joined the Civil Air Patrol East Bay Cadet Squadron 18 in 2007 when he was 12 years old. “[Sturgill] always embodied the core value of ‘Service Before Self,’ he saw to the needs of everyone else, and could be counted on to lend a hand whenever needed, all the while with a Cheshire smile,” according to a post on CAP’s Facebook page.
The Air Force and Boeing agreed to a nearly $2.4 billion contract for a new lot of KC-46 aerial tankers on Nov. 21. The deal, announced by the Pentagon, is for 15 new aircraft in Lot 11 at a cost of $2.389 billion—some $159 million per tail.