MSgt. Van Hood, an explosive ordnance disposal airman with the 4th Civil Engineer Squadron at Seymour Johnson AFB, N.C., in May received a Bronze Star medal—his third such award—for his meritorious service during a six-month deployment to Afghanistan. During this tour, Hood was assigned to FOB Airborne in Wardak province, where he divided his time between counter-IED missions, route clearance patrols, and activities in the tactical operations center there. During the deployment, Hood’s team responded to more than 150 CIED emergency response calls. “This award is totally consistent with Sergeant Hood’s record of performance; he never stops being an amazing leader and EOD technician,” said Lt. Col. William Mazzeno, Hood’s commander. (Seymour Johnson report by TSgt. Tammie Moore) (See report on one of Hood’s earlier Bronze Stars from the Daily Report archive.)
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.