U.S. Air Force Lt. Gen. Jim Slife, left, commander of Air Force Special Operations Command, U.S. Air Force Col. Matt Allen, center, commander of the 24th Special Operations Wing, and U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Cody Smith, a Special Tactics combat controller with the 26th Special Tactics Squadron, salute during the national anthem at a Silver Star Medal presentation ceremony at Cannon Air Force Base, New Mexico, Nov. 22, 2019. Smith was awarded the nation’s third highest medal against an armed enemy of the United States in combat for his actions while deployed to Afghanistan in October 2018. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Rachel Williams)