Air 
Force firefighters instructed their Honduran counterparts on firefighting procedures earlier this month during the Central America Sharing Mutual Operational Knowledge and Experiences exercise at Soto Cano AB, Honduras. Centam Smoke is a quarterly event that brings USAF airmen together with firefighters across Central America for several days of sharing knowledge and team-building training. During this iteration, Air Force firefighting personnel taught their Honduran hosts procedures for putting out vehicle, aircraft, and structural fires, according to an Air Force release on May 24. This event is one of Air Forces Southern’s outreach activities to help build the capacity of partner air forces in Central and South America. (Soto Cano photo caption by SSgt. Bryan Franks)
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…