Members of the 755th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, last month discovered an improvised explosive device during a patrol outside the wire, and their vigilance likely saved the lives of coalition personnel, according to a base release. During the June 18 patrol, something out of the ordinary caught the attention of these airmen, states the release. They secured the area and then alerted explosive ordnance disposal personnel of the suspicious object. The EOD team determined that the partially buried object was an IED weighing approximately 150 pounds, states the late June release. EOD personnel subsequently took the device out of commission so that no one would be harmed. (Bagram report by TSgt. Rob Hazelett)
Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III outlined Dec. 4 the vital importance of U.S. defense investment keeping pace with that of China before issuing a statement warning that such competition would suffer “irreparable” damage if Congress opts for a yearlong continuing resolution, a real possibility being discussed by lawmakers after…