TSgt. Douglas Rose of the 1st Security Forces Squadron at Langley AFB, Va., received a Bronze Star first oak leaf cluster March 25 for his service with the Operation Iraqi Freedom Joint Task Force from December 2006 to October 2007. Rose showed great expertise in the field of intelligence, and his keen insight into intelligence operations was pivotal in planning and executing numerous combat operations, reads his citation. Brig. Gen. Mark Barrett, 1st Fighter Wing commander, presented the medal during a ceremony at Langley. Since 2005, the 1st Security Forces Squadron has had six Bronze Stars awarded to its members for dedicated service in Iraq. (Langley report).
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.