Six airmen assigned to the 774th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, plus their C-130, recently helped close down Forward Operating Base Salerno in eastern Afghanistan by flying out the last US military personnel from there, according to a Bagram release. “This mission was unique,” said SSgt. Matt Pockette, C-130 loadmaster with the unit. “We had to deal with people walking up to the aircraft at the last minute to get on with extra baggage and cargo,” he said in the Oct. 29 release. Overall, the C-130 lifted out 250 passengers, two all-terrain vehicles, and 2,500 pounds of baggage in support of closing down Salerno. “It feels good when you see how happy everyone is to get out of there,” said SrA. Bradley Price, another C-130 loadmaster. Salerno had the nickname “Rocket City” for the number of rocket attacks it endured. (Bagram report by SSgt. Stephenie Wade)
Pentagon Releases Cost of Living, BAH Rates for 2026
Dec. 30, 2025
The Pentagon will pay cost of living allowances to 127,000 service members in the continental U.S. in 2026, an increase of 66,000 members in 2025. Airmen and Guardians across the U.S. will also receive an average increase of 4.2 percent for their Basic Housing Allowance, compared to the 5.4 percent…
