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.
The U.S. supports “a stronger and more capable” European defense, Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III said during an Oct. 22 press conference in Brussels—but that defense should not duplicate the functions and capabilities of the NATO alliance.