Aug. 19, 2020

NAVCENT, Fifth Fleet, CMF welcome new commander

MANAMA, Bahrain — Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command (NAVCENT), U.S. 5th Fleet and Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) held a hybrid change of command ceremony at Naval Support Activity Bahrain Aug. 19. Due to the global health pandemic, the ceremony involved virtual and in person participation to mitigate against COVID-19.

Aug. 18, 2020

Hill Airmen demonstrate combat flexibility, reliability of F-35 during deployments

HILL AIR FORCE BASE, Utah – For 16 months, Airmen from the 388th Fighter Wing here have been deployed in combat with the F-35A Lightning II and they continue to find ways to improve the capability of America’s most advanced fifth-generation fighter.Each of the wing’s three squadrons, alongside Reservists from the 419th Fighter Wing, have deployed

Aug. 17, 2020

UAE, U.S. forces conduct aviation Live Fire Exercise in Arabian Gulf

ARABIAN GULF — The United Arab Emirates Joint Aviation Command (JAC), U.S. Naval Forces Central Command (NAVCENT), U.S. Air Forces Central Command (AFCENT) and U.S. Special Operations Central Command (SOCCENT) conducted an air operations in support of maritime surface warfare (AOMSW) exercise in the Arabian Gulf, Aug. 9-12. The exercise included Joint Terminal Attack Controllers (JTACs) directing live fires at simulated targets from an AC-130W gunship attached to SOCCENT and rotary and fixed wing aircraft attached to the JAC. It gave Emirati and U.S. pilots a chance to hone strike capabilities together against surface targets such as maritime infrastructure and fast attack craft.

Aug. 7, 2020

USAF, USA bring joint humanitarian aid to Beirut

AL UDEID AIR BASE, Qatar — In a joint endeavor to assist the Lebanese Armed Forces and the people of Lebanon, Soldiers and Airmen stationed in Qatar worked to load the first U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster III with humanitarian aid Aug. 6, 2020.Members from the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing, Air Mobility Command’s 8th Expeditionary Air Mobility Squadron and 816th

Aug. 5, 2020

Operation Silent Sentry: 5,500 days and counting

PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. — As space and cyberspace become more competitive and crowded, the amount of signals transferred through satellites grows every day. Each signal takes up space in the electromagnetic spectrum. For 5,500 consecutive days, Operation Silent Sentry has been run by Total Force Airmen from the 16th Space Control Squadron and the 380th Space Control

Aug. 5, 2020

Lebanese Armed Forces, U.S. Navy Conduct Resolute Union Virtually Amid COVID-19 Pandemic

MANAMA, Bahrain — a U.S. Coastguard Maritime Engagement Team (MET), and additional supporting staff members. “The use of virtual exchanges allows us to leverage established relationships and connectivity, and strengthen interoperability with our regional partners,” said Vice Adm. Jim Malloy, Commander of U.S. Naval Forces Central Command, U.S. 5th Fleet, Combined Maritime Forces. “RU20 is an example of innovative solutions allowing the U.S. Navy to deepen our relationship with the superb Lebanese Armed Forces navy and marine corps, and continue building interoperability with this capable force - ensuring we fight through and overcome challenges together.”

Aug. 5, 2020

U.S. Navy Escorts Army Logistics Support Vessels Out of 5th Fleet after 20 Year Tour of Duty

ARABIAN GULF — U.S. Navy warships assigned to U.S. Naval Forces Central Command (NAVCENT), escorted two U.S. Army Frank S. Besson class logistics support vessels (LSV), assigned to U.S. Army Central Command (ARCENT), as they transited out of the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations (AOO), July-August. The two LSVs, Major General Charles P. Gross (LSV 5) and Specialist 4 James A. Loux (LSV 6), had been forward deployed to the region for 20 years in support of U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) tasking, and were departing Kuwait as a result of an Army-wide restructuring and asset allocation.

Aug. 4, 2020

Navy’s Only Female Commissioned Flying Warrant Officer Retires at Sea

ARABIAN SEA — Lt. Amy Blades-Langjahr, from Casper, Wyoming, was launched from USS Nimitz on a C-2 Greyhound for her last flight in the fleet Aug. 3. The only female Flying Chief Warrant Officer ever commissioned in the U.S. Navy rose from the ranks before retiring at the end of her “Shooter” tour, a career that spanned the entire Global War on Terror.

Aug. 3, 2020

HMS Montrose Patrolling the IRTC for Maritime Security

BAHRAIN — HMS Montrose, a Coalition Task Force (CTF) SENTINEL warship, has been patrolling the Internationally Recommended Transit Corridor (IRTC) in the Gulf of Aden. “Our ships routinely patrol these waters in order to provide reassurance to merchant vessels, maintain freedom of navigation and the free flow of commerce,” said Royal Navy Commodore Rob Bellfield, CTF Sentinel commander. “The Gulf of Aden is one of the most strategically important waterways in the Middle East region and it is vitally important that seafarers feel safe operating in the area.”

July 30, 2020

F-35 crews conquer new territory in CENTCOM AOR

AL DHAFRA AIR BASE, United Arab Emirates — The 421st Expeditionary Fighter Squadron did something in early July which had never been done before by an F-35A Lightning II unit - go into alert status.The squadron performed alert status exercises to provide the necessary data points to mission planners with the U.S. Air Force Central Command Air Operations Center.“This hasn’t been done before