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

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.

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.

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.

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.

Sept. 4, 2020

NAVCENT Medical Personnel Embed with Bahrain Ministry of Health to Manage Pandemic Response

MANAMA, Bahrain — U.S. Navy medical personnel assigned to U.S. Naval Forces Central Command (NAVCENT) have partnered with the Kingdom of Bahrain’s Ministry of Health (MOH) since April 2020, in an effort to coordinate coronavirus (COVID-19) mitigation efforts and ensure full compliance with the partner nation’s public health guidelines. The two officers, Lt. Shannon Jackson and Lt. Dominic Chambers, serve as medical liaisons embedded with the MOH’s National Task Force for Combating the Coronavirus (COVID-19), operating alongside Bahraini medical personnel at the Crown Prince Center for Training and Simulation.

Sept. 3, 2020

AUAB, Qatar sign agreement on air space operations

AL UDEID AIR BASE, Qatar — An Air Traffic Control Letter of Agreement was signed by U.S. personnel, the Qatar Emiri Air Force (QEAF) and Qatar Civil Aviation Authority (QCAA) to better work together to ensure safe air space operations at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar. “The document defines inter-facility procedures for Air Traffic Control (ATC) operations,” said U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Matt Robinson, 379th Expeditionary Operation Support Squadron commander. “It creates standard procedures that all controllers can train and execute, increasing predictability and enhancing safety.” Due to the AUAB flightline closely neighboring the Hamad International Airport, the airspace is shared between military operations and civilian operations making continuity and safety a critical necessity.

Sept. 3, 2020

AUAB Airmen make history as first deployed Space Force members

AL UDEID AIR BASE, QATAR — While a sunset would usually have signaled the end of just another day at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar, for 20 military members the golden hour glow seemed to symbolize the promise of a new beginning. Enlisted and commissioned Airmen assigned to the 16th Expeditionary Space Control Flight and the 609th Air Operations Center joined the U.S. Space Force during enlistment and oath of office ceremonies at the Silent Sentry compound Sept. 1, 2020.

Aug. 31, 2020

Special Tactics unit surpasses 6,900 days combating war in Middle East

HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. — In the wake of the 9/11 terrorist attacks which marked the beginning of the Global War on Terrorism, U.S. service members saw an increased spike in deployments that has ultimately sustained its high tempo for nearly two decades. For the men and women of the 17th Special Tactics Squadron, since their initial response to the GWOT in October 2001, there have been no breaks in deployments and combat operations for over 6900 days in support of Operations IRAQI FREEDOM, ENDURING FREEDOM, FREEDOM’S SENTINEL and RESOLUTE SUPPORT.

Aug. 28, 2020

332nd, 379th AEWs work together to expand agile combat employment in AOR

AL UDEID AIR BASE, QATAR — In a joint effort to implement agile combat employment, F-15E Strike Eagle maintainers from the 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing conducted hot-pit training and aircraft arresting system certification with deployed members from the 379th AEW, Aug. 23 and 28, 2020, at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar.