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Sept. 29, 2020

USS Stout Breaks Record As It Departs US 5th Fleet

The guided-missile destroyer USS Stout (DDG 55) breaks a Navy record as it completes a nearly seven month deployment in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations (AOO), Sept. 28.

Navy coastal patrol ships and Coast Guard patrol boats, attached to Task Force (TF) 55, sail in formation during the joint air operations in support of maritime surface warfare (AOMSW) exercise in the Arabian Gulf, Sept. 24. Combined integration operations between joint U.S. forces are regularly held to maintain interoperability and the capability to counter threats posed in the maritime domain, ensuring freedom of navigation and free flow of commerce throughout the region's heavily trafficked waterways. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Joshua DuRant)

Sept. 26, 2020

U.S. Forces Conduct Joint Aviation Integration Exercise in Arabian Gulf

U.S. Naval Forces Central Command (NAVCENT) and U.S. Air Forces Central (AFCENT) conducted a robust joint air operations in support of maritime surface warfare (AOMSW) exercise in the Arabian Gulf Sept. 23-24.

A U.S. Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft assigned to the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing is refueled during a hot refueling training scenario at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar, Sept. 21, 2020. Personnel from the 379th Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, 379th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron and 340th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron attended the training. The certification they receive will enable personnel to refuel a KC-135 while one or more engines run.

Sept. 23, 2020

379th AEW conducts first KC-135 hot refueling in USAF

AL UDEID AIR BASE, Qatar — To advance the agility of Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar, Airmen from the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing performed a validation and verification of the first hot refueling of a KC-135 Stratotanker in the U.S. Air Force on Sept. 21, 2020.

(U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Ashley Perdue)

Sept. 22, 2020

Medical care in the air

AL UDEID AIR BASE, Qatar — AL UDEID AIR BASE, Qatar – On a typical mission with one crew, two flight nurses and three aeromedical technicians, the Airmen assigned to the 379th Expeditionary Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron have the ability to transform nearly any cargo aircraft into a flying hospital.

200918-N-ZR324-1027 STRAIT OF HORMUZ (Sept. 18, 2020) A MH-60S Sea Hawk helicopter, from the “Screamin’ Indians” of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 6, prepares for takeoff from the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68) during a Strait of Hormuz transit, Sept. 18. The Nimitz Carrier Strike Group is deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations in support of naval operations to ensure maritime stability and security in the Central Region, connecting the Mediterranean and the Pacific through the western Indian Ocean and three strategic choke points. With Nimitz as the flagship, deployed strike group assets include staffs, ships and aircraft of Carrier Strike Group 11, Destroyer Squadron 9, Princeton and Carrier Air Wing 17. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Jose Madrigal)

Sept. 18, 2020

USS Nimitz with Accompanying Carrier Strike Group Ships Enter Arabian Gulf

ARABIAN GULF — The aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68), flagship of the Nimitz Carrier Strike Group (CSG), along with the guided-missile cruisers USS Princeton (CG 59) and USS Philippine Sea (CG 58) and guided-missile destroyer USS Sterett (DDG 104), completed a scheduled transit through the Strait of Hormuz into the Arabian Gulf Sept. 18.

Lieutenant Col. Jeff Waterman, 968th Expeditionary Airborne Air Control Squadron, 968 EAACS director of operations, performs a pre-flight check on his oxygen mask before take-off at Al Dhafra Air Base, United Arab Emirates Sept. 15, 2020. Deployed Airmen from the 968 EAACS provide continuous Battle Management Command and Control for over 5,000 aircraft to include Defensive Counter Air, Close Air Support, Remotely Piloted Aircraft, Tanker, and Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance assets. (U.S. Air Force photographer by Master Sgt. Patrick OReilly)

Sept. 17, 2020

From flip phone to smart phone: AWACS gets an upgrade

TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. — The first fully qualified crew under the new crew design for the E-3 G Airborne Warning and Control System reached their deployment location in September 2020.The new crew design, introduced in 2016, was inspired by the Block 40/45 Modernization Program update to the E-3 AWACS weapons system. As the Block 40/45 configuration enhances

ARABIAN GULF (Sept. 10, 2020) The Royal Navy Hunt-class mine countermeasures vessel HMS Chiddingfold (M37), right, sails in formation with a Mark VI patrol boat attached to Commander, Task Force (CTF) 56 during a bi-lateral mine countermeasure exercise between the U.K. and U.S. in the Arabian Gulf, Sept. 10. CTF 56 is deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations and conducts mine warfare operations in support of naval operations to ensure maritime stability in the Central Region, connecting the Mediterranean and Pacific through the Western Indian Ocean and three strategic chokepoints to the free flow of global commerce. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Timothy Clegg)

Sept. 16, 2020

Strengthening Partnerships: UK and U.S. Navies Conduct Mine Hunting and Countermeasures Exercise

ARABIAN GULF — UK Royal Navy and U.S. Navy forces participated in a mine countermeasures (MCM) interoperability exercise in the Arabian Gulf Sept. 9-17. U.S. Navy mine countermeasures ships (MCM) operated alongside mine countermeasures vessels (MCMV) from the Royal Navy in order to enhance interoperability, information sharing and shared tactics and procedures between the two navies.

A U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle takes off from the 332d Air Expeditionary Wing February 13, 2020, at an undisclosed location in Southwest Asia. The F-15E is a maneuverable tactical fighter designed to allow the Air Force to establish air superiority over the battlefield. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Alexandria Brun)

Sept. 14, 2020

USAF, RSAF conduct Exercise Desert Eagle in CENTCOM AOR

PRINCE SULTAN AIR BASE, SAUDI ARABIA — Members of the 378th Air Expeditionary Wing performed a hot pit refuel of F-15E Strike Eagles from the 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing, following a large formation flight in support of Exercise Desert Eagle at Prince Sultan Air Base, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Sept. 10, 2020.

Combined Joint Task Force-Operation Inherent Resolve, the military organization to defeat Daesh in Iraq and Syria, swapped leaders during a change of command ceremony in Baghdad, Set. 9, 2020. Lt. Gen. Paul Calvert (right), Gen. Kenneth F. McKenzie Jr. (central), commanding general, U.S. Central Command, and Lt. Gen. Pat White (left), III Armored Corps commanding general, salute during a ceremony to welcome Gen. Calvert as the new CJTF-OIR commander.

Sept. 10, 2020

Coalition welcomes new commander, continues mission

SOUTHWEST ASIA — Combined Joint Task Force-Operation Inherent Resolve, the military organization to defeat Daesh in Iraq and Syria, conducted a change of command ceremony in Baghdad, Sept. 9, 2020. Lt. Gen. Paul Calvert assumed command from Lt. Gen. Pat White, commanding general, III Armored Corps, as the command’s colors were passed by the U.S. Central Command commander.

The 16th Space Control Squadron holds a heritage panel Aug. 21, 2020 on Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado.

Sept. 9, 2020

16th SPCS heritage panel commemorates 15 years of space support to U.S., allied warfighters

PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. — On Aug. 21 2020, the 16th Space Control Squadron held a heritage panel highlighting 15 years of continuous space operations from a deployed site in the Middle East known as Operation Silent Sentry, providing space electronic warfare capabilities across the spectrum of satellite communications, supporting multiple combatant commands.