The Defense Department on Monday identified the soldier killed Saturday in Afghanistan as SSgt. Mark R. De Alencar, 37, of Edgewood, Md. De Alencar was assigned to 1st Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne) at Eglin AFB, Fla. His unit came in contact with enemy forces using small arms fire in Nangarhar Province while it was conducting operations targeting ISIS in the Achin district of the province, according to an Operation Resolute Support statement.
Air Force senior statesmen explained the reasons they jointly sent a letter to Congress urging restoration of the E-7 Wedgetail and more F-35s to the fiscal 2026 defense budget.