April 16, 2024

Indian Navy Carries Out First Drug Interdiction as CMF Member

MANAMA, Bahrain — The Indian Navy Ship INS Talwar, operating in support of the Canadian-led Combined Task Force (CTF) 150, conducted its first interdiction of illicit narcotics as a member of Combined Maritime Forces, seizing 940 kg of drugs in the Arabian Sea, April 13.

April 10, 2024

379th AEW modernizes force structure in preparation for AFFOGREN

UNDISCLOSED LOCATION — U.S. Central Command Area of Responsibility – The 379th Air Expeditionary Wing held an activation ceremony for the 379th Expeditionary Air Base Group, Apr. 2, 2024. The ceremony marked the merger of the 379th AEW’s medical, maintenance, operations and mission support groups into one cohesive support team. “Today we activated our EABG to be led initially by Col. David Mays – until a few weeks from now when we receive another exceptional leader from the new AFFORGEN model,” said U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Douglas Jackson, 379th AEW commander. “The faces will change, but the values we have championed and the culture we have cultivated will endure.”

April 8, 2024

New leadership takes command of the 380th AEW

New leadership took command of the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing during a change of command and change of responsibility ceremony April 1, 2024, at an undisclosed location within the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility. Col. Ronald L. Selvidge Jr. assumed command of the wing from Brig. Gen. Terence G. Taylor, outgoing 380th AEW commander. Chief Master Sgt. J. Stacy Cutshaw also took responsibility as the wing’s new command chief, replacing Command Chief Master Sgt. Christopher Murphy. “I have been waiting for this day; I have been anticipating it. I am excited about the new challenge,” said Selvidge.

April 3, 2024

Italy Takes Command of International Red Sea Task Force

MANAMA, Bahrain — The U.S. Navy turned over command of Combined Task Force (CTF) 153 to the Italian Navy during a change of command ceremony at the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) headquarters here, April 3.

March 20, 2024

Poland Joins Combined Maritime Forces in Middle East as 42nd Member

MANAMA, Bahrain — Combined Maritime Forces welcomed the Republic of Poland as the 42nd member of the world’s largest maritime security partnership, March 17.

March 13, 2024

Laboon Sailors Provide Assistance to Distressed Mariners

GULF OF ADEN — Crew members from the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Laboon (DDG 58) provided assistance to three mariners on a disabled vessel in the international waters of the Gulf of Aden, March 11.

March 6, 2024

DTRA’s Biological Threat Reduction Program and the Tripartite Health Organizations conduct workshop on Zoonotic Workforce Development.

In partnership with The Defense Threat Reduction Agency’s Biological Threat Reduction Program and the Tripartite health organizations (World Health Organization (WHO), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), and the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH)), conducted a workshop aimed at fortifying and mobilizing Kazakhstan's workforce for effective preparedness and response to zoonotic disease outbreaks Jan. 23-25 in Almaty, Kazakhstan.

March 6, 2024

Contingency Contractors: Partnerships Power the Mission in U.S. Central Command

U.S. CENTRAL COMMAND - “An army runs on its stomach,” a phrase attributed to Napoleon Bonaparte, emphasizes the importance of meeting the basic logistical needs of a military force first and foremost. In a modern contingency environment such as the Middle East, the U.S. Air Force directly supplies a base with equipment like aircraft, heavy machinery and weaponry. But when it comes to smaller logistical details, an expeditionary contracting squadron is largely responsible for feeding the “stomach.” “We have our hands in just about every aspect of the mission here, from food, phone services, and office equipment to making sure we have electricity and running water. Whether it’s at the AFCENT (U.S. Air Forces Central) level or handled right here by our team, those items or services were procured by Air Force contracting,” said an ECONS director of operations deployed to the Middle East.

Feb. 26, 2024

Space capabilities highlighted in second annual CENTCOM Theater Space Forum

UNDISCLOSED LOCATION, Southwest Asia — U.S. Space Forces Central hosted the second annual U.S. Central Command Theater Space Forum recently, bringing together over 140 space experts from all five branches of the Defense Department, multiple Combatant Commands and partner nations.

Feb. 23, 2024

Multilateral Maritime Engagement 24.1: Strengthening Regional Partnerships for Enhanced Stability

MANAMA, Bahrain - Task Force 51/5th Marine Expeditionary Brigade (TF 51/5) is proud to announce Multilateral Maritime Engagement (MME) 24.1, a symposium aimed at fostering multilateral opportunities, partnerships, and capabilities within the United States Central Command (CENTCOM) Area of Responsibility (AOR). MME 24.1 will take place from 21-22 February 2024 in Bahrain, where TF 51/5 will host military leaders from across the region to advance bilateral and multilateral partnerships. The symposium will serve as a platform for military leaders from Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, and the UK to engage in meaningful discussions about issues facing maritime security in the region, and to collaborate on strategic planning.