Air Force Secretary Deborah James approved a new decoration for Active Duty airmen, Air National Guard members, and Air Force Reservists directly involved in the strategic nuclear deterrence mission, announced service personnel officials on Monday. Dubbed the Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal, this decoration is aimed at “attracting and retaining high-caliber airmen in the nuclear mission,” states the June 2 release. Air Force officials at the Pentagon have not yet finalized eligibility criteria, according to the release. This announcement closely follows Air Force Global Strike Command’s efforts to reform the ICBM and nuclear-capable bomber career fields and fix assessment standards in the wake of the command’s missileer cheating scandal last year. Approval for the medal came on May 27.
One Airman was killed and three others injured in a vehicle mishap at Malmstrom Air Force Base, Mont., on June 29. Additionally, two first responder Airmen sustained injuries responding to the incident. All five injured Airmen have been transported to nearby medical facilities, according to a release from the base.