Five airmen assigned to Eglin AFB, Fla., on Monday received Bronze Star Medals for their meritorious service in Afghanistan and Iraq during a ceremony at the base. They are Lt. Col. Christopher Holmes, 96th Logistics Readiness Squadron commander; SMSgt. Eric West of the 96th Civil Engineer Group; TSgt. John Carroll, 96th Civil Engineer Squadron explosive ordinance technician; TSgt. Howard Loughran, 96th CES EOD technician; and SSgt. Lucas Dorosky, 96th CES EOD technician. It was Loughran’s second Bronze Star. A sixth airman, TSgt. Todd Kuikka, 96th CES EOD technician, was also awarded a Bronze Star, but was not present to receive it. (Eglin release by Leslie Brown) (See also Tuesday’s Northwest Florida Daily News report.)
When acting Air Force Secretary Gary A. Ashworth rescinded service-wide “Family Days” last week citing the need to build readiness, he left it up to commanders, directors, and supervisors to decide if they would still permit extra days off. Here’s how Air Force major commands are taking that guidance.