C-130J transports from the 37th Airlift Squadron at Ramstein AB, Germany, joined Marine Corps KC-130s in airlifting more than 300 Egyptian citizens from Djerba, Tunisia, back home to Egypt. “Thank you for helping us in this difficult time. Our regards to the American people,” said an Egyptian customs official who met the arriving aircraft in Cairo on March 5. The Egyptians fled from Libya into Tunisia to escape the violent unrest in Libya. “It’s a long day for us, but it’s well worth it to help someone to get home and get back to their family,” said SSgt. John-Paul Hansen, one of the C-130J loadmasters. The C-130Js also brought in loads of relief supplies to Djaerba. President Obama announced on March 3 that US military aircraft would help bring the displaced Egyptians home. (Cairo report by MSgt. Jim Fisher and Djaerba report by Fisher)
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.