June 16, 2020

Task Force Dragon Mission Roars to a Finish

SOUTHWEST ASIA — “Task Force Dragon,” the Royal Danish Army contingent with Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve, concluded its Iraqi Border Guard training mission in Iraq, June 11, 2020 at Al Asad Air Base. Since 2014, Task Force Dragon, of CJTF-OIR Task Force Iraq, has led the international Coalition’s effort to train more than 19,500 members of the Iraqi Border Guard Forces. This week, TF Dragon passed the torch to their Iraqi counterparts, who will continue to train their own forces to ensure the enduring defeat of Daesh.

June 11, 2020

Iran Poses Greatest Threat to Region, Centcom Commander Says

Iran poses the greatest threat to regional security and stability, the commander of U.S. Central Command said. Marine Corps Gen. Kenneth F. McKenzie Jr. spoke today at a Middle East Institute webinar titled, "Centcom and the Shifting Sands of the Middle East."

June 9, 2020

Female Airmen team up for Historic Launch

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES — Historically, Air Force fighter pilots and maintainers were male, but the future looks a lot different as more and more females join the ranks of these career fields and make history while they do it. Recently, Capt. Emily Thompson, an F-35A Lightning II pilot, made history as she flew in combat, making her the first female to do so in that airframe.

June 9, 2020

Agile Combat Employment exercise tests AFCENT’s power projection capability

UNDISCLOSED LOCATION, U.S. Central Command area of responsibility — For approximately three weeks, more than 230 Airmen assigned to U.S. Air Forces Central Command conducted an Agile Combat Employment exercise to test the command’s ability to project airpower from an austere location within U.S. Central Command’s 20-nation area of responsibility. The AFCENT Air Warfare Center led the ACE, along with personnel from AFCENT staff directorates, and conducted exercises to build military-to-military relationships, tactical capabilities, and interoperability through air operations to promote readiness and stability in the region.

June 5, 2020

Joint medical team combines for critical transport, care for COVID-19 patients

AL UDIED AIR BASE, Qatar — In the midst of challenges that COVID-19 has brought to the United States and countries around the world, the Department of Defense has taken multiple measures to combat the spread of the new virus and ultimately protect their most valuable asset, American service members. When U.S. service members recently tested positive for COVID-19 in the U.S. Central Command’s area of responsibility, it prompted quick and professional patient care. With robust healthcare measures already in place by both U.S. military and host nation medical providers, the service members received the highest levels of care, ensuring their safety while protecting the health of other service members.

May 30, 2020

AUAB evolving to be air base of future

AL UDEID AIR BASE, Qatar — When many people picture or reminisce on deployments, they visualize rugged conditions. While outposts in austere environments do still exist, many other locations such as Al Udeid Air Base have seen significant development in the past 20 years. The 379th Air Expeditionary Wing leads the way on installation upgrades here. With a multi-billion dollar commitment from the host nation of Qatar, future joint and coalition service members at AUAB will soon see completed projects. With 10 state-of-the-art dormitories, two dining facilities, and three mission support facilities slated for completion in the near future as well as over 170 projects in the next decade, these new buildings will improve the quality of life for service members and improve the effectiveness of operations.

May 26, 2020

U.S. Army and Jordan Armed Forces continue partnership mission despite COVID-19 challenges

JOINT TRAINING CENTER, JORDAN — The United States and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan have continued to cement their military partnership through the Jordan Operational Engagement Program (JOEP) in past months.

May 22, 2020

UAE Military Pilots Conduct Landing Qualifications aboard USS Lewis B. Puller

ARABIAN GULF — The expeditionary landing base ship USS Lewis B. Puller (ESB 3), assigned to U.S. Naval Forces Central Command (NAVCENT), conducted combined naval and air integration operations with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Joint Aviation Command (JAC) in the central Arabian Gulf, May 11-12. UAE JAC pilots successfully completed deck landing qualifications (DLQ) aboard the Puller, conducting day and night landings and refueling operations with their CH-47F and UH-60M helicopters.

May 21, 2020

CENTCOM’s Navy leaders give back to Tampa Bay healthcare heroes

TAMPA, Fla. — This year’s celebration of the chief petty officers birthday at U.S. Central Command’s (CENTCOM) headquarters did not look like the typical traditional celebration.

May 19, 2020

CSG-10 Bids Farewell to Schlise, Welcomes McLane during Change of Command at Sea

ARABIAN SEA — Rear Adm. Brendan McLane relieved Rear Adm. Paul Schlise as commander, Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 10 during a ceremony aboard the CSG’s flagship, USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (IKE) (CVN 69) while the ship is deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations (AOO), May 19. Beginning last summer, the Sailors, ships, squadrons and staffs of IKE Carrier Strike Group executed an accelerated pre-deployment training and certification syllabus, including a complex Group Sail, which integrated Royal Navy and Dutch ships. The strike group was certified for deployed operations during a Composite Training Unit Exercise (COMTUEX), which incorporated Danish, French and Canadian ships in tiered, complex training serials.