211221-F-UQ958-2203
A loadmaster assigned to the 61st Expeditionary Airlift Squadron guides a U.S. Army M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System assigned to the 1st Battalion, 181st Field Artillery Regiment onto a C-130J Super Hercules during an Agile Combat Employment at an undisclosed location in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, Dec. 21, 2021. ACE is an operational concept that leverages networks of well-established and austere air bases, multi-capable Airmen, pre-positional equipment, and airlift to rapidly deploy, disperse and maneuver combat capability throughout a theater. Paired with aircraft refueling, arming and limited maintenance activities, ACE expands the number of bases from which air forces can generate combat sorties. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Joseph Pick)
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U.S. Army Soldiers assigned to the 1st Battalion, 181st Field Artillery Regiment communicate with an M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System during an Agile Combat Employment at an undisclosed location in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, Dec. 21, 2021. ACE is an operational concept that leverages networks of well-established and austere air bases, multi-capable Airmen, pre-positional equipment, and airlift to rapidly deploy, disperse and maneuver combat capability throughout a theater. Paired with aircraft refueling, arming and limited maintenance activities, ACE expands the number of bases from which air forces can generate combat sorties. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Joseph Pick)
211221-F-UQ958-2065
U.S. Army Soldiers assigned to the 1st Battalion, 181st Field Artillery Regiment conduct a training mission in an M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems during an Agile Combat Employment at an undisclosed location in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, Dec. 21, 2021. ACE is an operational concept that leverages networks of well-established and austere air bases, multi-capable Airmen, pre-positional equipment, and airlift to rapidly deploy, disperse and maneuver combat capability throughout a theater. Paired with aircraft refueling, arming and limited maintenance activities, ACE expands the number of bases from which air forces can generate combat sorties. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Joseph Pick)
Operation Agile Spartan
A U.S. Air Force E-3 Sentry takes off during Operation Agile Spartan from Al Dhafra Air Base, United Arab Emirates, Dec. 18, 2021. Operation Agile Spartan is a demonstration of Agile Combat Employment core competencies in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility. Paired with aircraft refueling and command and control capabilities, ACE expands the number of locations from which air forces can generate combat sorties. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Dan Heaton)
332 AEW conducts hot pit refueling during ACE
A U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon pilot assigned to the 55th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron waits on the flight line during a hot pit refueling operation as part of an Agile Combat Employment exercise at an undisclosed location, Dec. 21, 2021. ACE is an operational concept that leverages networks of well-established and austere air bases, multi-capable Airmen, pre-positional equipment, and airlift to rapidly deploy, disperse and maneuver combat capability throughout a theater. Paired with aircraft refueling, arming and limited maintenance activities, ACE expands the number of bases from which air forces can generate combat sorties. (US Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Joseph Pick)
By Maj. Jessica Tait / Published Dec. 23, 2021
AL UDEID AIR BASE, Qatar,
Ninth Air Force (U.S. Air Forces Central) and coalition partners conducted its most comprehensive joint and multinational Agile Combat Employment-focused operation to date at an expeditionary location and various established installations across U.S. Central Command’s area of responsibility, Dec. 17-22, 2021.
The ACE capstone event leveraged Airmen and assets in the region to enhance theater airpower competencies, validating operational capabilities, command and control, logistics and sustainment, while simultaneously strengthening regional partnerships.
“AFCENT’s operations continue to evolve as our command remains focused on 21st-century threats within the CENTCOM area of responsibility,” said U.S. Air Force Lt. Gen. Greg Guillot, commander, 9th AF (AFCENT). “Increasingly, our presence is shaped by how we effectively deploy, employ and redeploy personnel, equipment and aircraft throughout the theater, integrate as a joint and coalition force, and strengthen relationships with host nation partners. This latest ACE capstone event successfully brought all of those elements together and serves as a demonstration of our capabilities and commitment to the region.”
While the command is continually refining its approach to ACE, this latest capstone effort built on lessons learned from across the U.S. Air Force and within the command, and was remarkable in the number of joint, coalition and partner nations involved across the AOR, according to U.S. Air Force Maj. Miles Blocker, who served as lead planner for the operation.
Throughout, Airmen strengthened a variety of skills, to include: employing agile airlift in the mobilization and deployment to various locations, conducting hot-pit refueling and crew-swap operations, establishing dynamic command and control, executing combat search and rescue operations, and integrating partner nations into ground and flying operations.
