March 18, 2020

The Defeat of Daesh: One Year Later

KUWAIT — At the height of their power, the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, now referred to as Daesh, operated in 18 different countries and had an annual budget of $1 billion with an estimated 30,000 members. They conducted ground attacks on both government forces and any other force that opposed them. Their goal: to establish a so-called caliphate in the region. On August 7th, 2014, the U.S.-led coalition launched airstrikes against Daesh. On March 23rd, 2019, the Pentagon announced the physical defeat of the Daesh caliphate in Syria. Over 110,000 square miles were liberated. Approximately 7.7 million people were freed from Daesh oppression. In Baghuz, Syria, where the final battle took place, a yellow flag was flown atop a building by U.S.-backed Syrian forces as they celebrated their victory over Daesh.

March 15, 2020

US Navy surface forces and AC-130W gunships conduct joint operations in Arabian Gulf

U.S. Navy Cyclone-class patrol coastal ships (PC) and P-8A Poseidon aircraft assigned to U.S. Naval Forces Central Command (NAVCENT) conducted a first of its kind joint exercise with AC-130W Stinger II gunships assigned to Special Operations Command Central (SOCCENT), March 8 and 9.

March 12, 2020

Update on DOD COVID-19 measures

Today, the Secretary of Defense announced new travel restrictions for 60 days for service members, DoD civilians and families traveling to, from, or through Level 3 locations, as designated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). These restrictions are effective March 13. "The Department of Defense's top priority remains the protection and welfare of our people. While directing this prudent action, I continue to delegate all necessary authority to commanders to make further decisions based on their assessments to protect their people and ensure mission readiness. While we deal with this fluid and evolving situation, I remain confident in our ability to protect our service members, civilians and families," said Secretary of Defense Mark Esper.

March 11, 2020

Defense leaders detail how Middle East, Africa fit in U.S. strategy

WASHINGTON — Since the National Defense Strategy was published in 2018, Defense Department officials who testify before Congress have stressed proposals based on that strategy.

March 11, 2020

AFCENT hosts innovation summit

AL UDEID AIR BASE, QATAR — U.S. Air Forces Central Command hosted its fourth annual innovation summit, March 3-5, 2020, bringing together military and academic minds to discuss AFCENT’s innovation goal of increasing effectiveness and lethality via timeliness and data-driven decision making.

March 9, 2020

AWACS test rapid deployment capability at PSAB

PRINCE SULTAN AIR BASE, SAUDI ARABIA — The E-3G, currently assigned to the 968th Expeditionary Airborne Air Control Squadron at Al Dhafra Air Base, United Arab Emirates, recently returned to PSAB for an agile combat employment exercise March 1-7, 2020.

March 7, 2020

Joint Training Center-Jordan partners with Civil Defence Department for emergency response training

JOINT TRAINING CENTER, JORDAN 03.07.2020 — The Civil Defence Department (CDC) and Joint Training Center-Jordan (JTC-J) conducted an emergency response training event Wednesday. The event's intent was to test the overall response time of the CDD during a simulated building fire at JTC-J. At 10 a.m., a JTC-J fire alarm was pulled, and within minutes, two CDD fire trucks and an ambulance cleared the installation security checkpoint and were on scene.

March 6, 2020

U.S. Army authorizes combat patch for service in Somalia

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Army has authorized the wearing of the combat patch -- officially known as the "shoulder sleeve insignia for former wartime service" -- for Soldiers who have been deployed, temporarily stationed or permanently assigned to Somalia since 2004 and who received combat zone tax exclusion plus hostile fire pay and/or imminent danger pay. "The shoulder sleeve insignia is a unique Army tradition that distinguishes Soldiers who have served in areas of combat, and our Soldiers in Somalia have certainly earned this recognition," said Gen. James McConville, Chief of Staff of the Army.

March 4, 2020

Triple Nickel completes historic deployment to AUAB

AL UDEID AIR BASE, QATAR — More than 300 Airmen with the 555th Fighter Squadron, also known as the “world famous, highly-respected” Triple Nickel, completed the first leg of their deployment after departing Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar in late Feb. 2020. The Triple Nickel is an F-16 Fighting Falcon squadron that provides combat air power and performs air and space control and force application roles including air interdiction and close-air support in support of joint, NATO, and combined operations throughout the U.S. Air Forces Central Command area of responsibility.

March 4, 2020

Crown Prince of Bahrain visits NAVCENT

MANAMA, Bahrain — The Crown Prince of Bahrain, His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al-Khalifa, visited U.S. Naval Forces Central Command (NAVCENT) and the U.K. led International Maritime Security Construct (IMSC) Task Force SENTINEL on Naval Support Activity Bahrain, March 3.