The Air Force has awarded Air National Guardsman Col. Eric W. Vollmecke, commander of the 167th Airlift Wing, Martinsburg, W.Va., a Bronze Star for his command of a mix of active and reserve airmen while deployed to Afghanistan last year.
Every year, Congress and the military debate which combat assets should head to the boneyard and which have more life left in them. Lawmakers often opt to keep Air Force systems that bring jobs to their districts, which complicates matters as the service looks to modernize and ditch certain platforms.…