MSgt. James Nelson of the 33rd Operations Group at Eglin AFB, Fla., has received a Bronze Star medal, Eglin officials announced Wednesday. Nelson was recognized for his meritorious service during a recent deployment to Joint Base Balad, Iraq. He has been assigned to the group’s intelligence flight since 2005. (Eglin photo caption by Samuel King Jr.)
F-35As from the Vermont Air National Guard have deployed to Puerto Rico in recent days, continuing a major buildup of U.S. Air Force assets in Latin America aimed at combating drug trafficking and pressuring the regime of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro.

