U. S. Air National Guard members assigned to the 146th Airlift Wing participate in integrated defense and active threat response events during Ready Airman Training hosted at Naval Base Ventura County, Point Mugu, California, April 28, 2026. Ready Airman Training replaces the legacy expeditionary “just-in-time” deployment training, establishing a baseline to prepare every Airmen for deployed and home station contingencies outside of their single Air Force Specialty Code – creating a more lethal and resilient force. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. Michelle Ulber)

Maj. Joel Loranger, the operations officer with the 157th Air Refueling Wing, New Hampshire National Guard, is awarded the Bronze Star Medal May 2, 2026, at Pease Air National Guard Base, New Hampshire. Loranger earned the decoration for his leadership as the defense force commander at Al Asad Air Base from April to October 2025. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. Timothy Hayden)

Maj. Joel Loranger, an operations officer with the 157th Air Refueling Wing, New Hampshire National Guard, is awarded the Bronze Star Medal at a recognition ceremony May 2, 2026 at Pease Air National Guard Base, New Hampshire. Loranger earned the medal for distinguished accomplishments while deployed to Iraq, where he led security forces through a series of enemy aerial attacks during a six-month combat tour. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. Timothy Hayden)

Maj. Joel Loranger, an operations officer with the 157th Air Refueling Wing, New Hampshire National Guard, salutes Maj. Michael Petrin, commander of the 157th SFS, at a recognition ceremony May 2, 2026 at Pease Air National Guard Base, New Hampshire. Loranger was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for distinguished accomplishments while deployed to Iraq, where he led security forces through a series of enemy aerial attacks during a six-month combat tour. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. Timothy Hayden)

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Ryan Dang, 163rd Attack Wing, California Air National Guard, checks ethernet cable connections at March Air Reserve Base, Calif., May 1, 2026. The wing’s 163rd Communications Flight played a key role in cleaning infrastructure across more than 25 buildings by removing hundreds of excess cables and repurposing assets. (U.S. Air National Guard Photo by Staff Sgt. Bridgitte Taylor)

U.S. Air Force Staff. Sgt. Jerry Velasquez, 163rd Attack Wing, California Air National Guard, checks the ethernet cords beneath the floor at March Air Reserve Base, Calif., May 1, 2026. The wing’s 163rd Communications Flight worked on installing new ethernet cord connections to establish an additional workspace. (U.S. Air National Guard Photo by Staff Sgt. Bridgitte Taylor)