; Whereas, during the Korean War, the USAF employed the first large-scale combat use of jet aircraft, helped to establish air superiority over the Korean Peninsula, protected ground forces of the United Nations with close air support, and interdicted enemy reinforcements and supplies; Whereas, after the development of launch vehicles and orbital satellites, the mission of the USAF expanded into space and, as of 2017, provides exceptional support with respect to real-time global communications, environmental monitoring, navigation, precision timing, missile warning, nuclear deterrence, and space surveillance; Whereas, during the Vietnam War, the USAF engaged in a limited campaign of airpower to assist the South Vietnamese government in countering the communist Viet Cong guerillas and fought to disrupt supply lines, halt enemy ground offensives, and protect United States and Allied forces; Whereas, on April 3, 1967, former prisoner of war Paul W. Airey, a career radio operator, aerial gunner, and First Sergeant, became the first Chief Master Sergeant of the USAF; Whereas, in recent decades, the USAF and coalition partners of the United States have supported successful actions in Grenada, Panama, Iraq, Kuwait, Somalia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Haiti, Kosovo, Afghanistan, Libya, Syria, and many other locations around the world; Whereas USAF Special Operations Forces have served with honor and distinction around the world since their activation in 1990, providing the United States with specialized airpower across the broad spectrum of conflict in any place and at any time; Whereas, for 27 consecutive years beginning in 1990, Airmen have— (1) been engaged in continuous combat operations ranging from Operation Desert Shield to the Global War on Terrorism to Operation Inherent Resolve; and (2) shown that the Airmen constitute an air and space expeditionary force of outstanding capability and are ready to fight and win wars for the United States when and where they are called upon