June 29, 2023

Walking the Innovation Talk at the Rock

ALI AL SALEM AIR BASE, Kuwait — Senior Master Sgt. Christopher Holman, 386th Expeditionary Wing Civil Engineering Squadron operations superintendent (right) and Master Sgt. Trevor Wilkinson, 386th ECES facilities superintendent (left) wrapped up their six-month deployments by moving forward the timeline for increased night-time flying capabilities at Ali Al Salem Air Base, Kuwait. The two Airmen conducted in-depth research and data collection in order to demonstrate the viability of purchasing solar runway lights as a timely and inexpensive option. As the project moves forward, it also has the potential to increase the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing's Agile Combat Employment (ACE) Capabilities.

June 27, 2023

AFCENT hosts coalition partners prior to INDOPACOM large force exercise

SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. — The French military has dispatched a massive contingent of aircraft to the Indo-Pacific under the mission named ‘Pégase 2023’ to increase its regional presence and influence. The contingent participating in the mission will comprise 19 warplanes, consisting of 10 Dassault Rafale B and C multirole fighters, five A330 MRTT refueling aircraft, and four Airbus A400M transport planes. The 380th Air Expeditionary Wing at Al Dhafra Air Base, United Arab Emirates, hosted this contingent prior to their departure to the Indo-Pacific. They provided transportation, lodging and food services for those transient members of the French military. “The French were happy that we were able to provide accommodations for their transiting personnel and logistics support for the Rafale fighters. This stop was crucial, with minimum time on the ground in Al Dhafra in order to make their rapid deployment timeline to Guam,” said U.S. Air Force Col. Terence G. Taylor, 380th Air Expeditionary Wing commander. The objective of the latest deployment is to showcase France’s power projection capabilities and to highlight its status as a resident sovereign nation in the Indo-Pacific. Following their departure from Al Dhafra, the French will participate in U.S.-led, large-scale exercises in the Pacific, along with partners in the region from the islands of Guam and Palau. This concerted effort, undertaken in coordination with U.S. forces, underscores the strong partnership between the U.S. and France. “France is America’s oldest friend and Ally. Our relationship is built upon our shared commitment to the same values – democracy, human rights, the rule of law, security, and prosperity,” said U.S. Air Force Lt. Gen. Alexus Grynkewich, Ninth Air Force (Air Forces Central) commander and Combined Forces Air Component Commander for U.S. Central Command. “We’re proud to support this latest bilateral effort and to have the French serving alongside us and our other Coalition partners.” For more information, contact U.S. Air Forces Central Command Public Affairs at 011-974-4458-9555 and connect to 436-4102/1412 or email at afcent.pa@afcent.af.mil.

June 27, 2023

U.S. Hosts Two Major Multilateral Maritime Engagement Forums in Middle East

MANAMA, Bahrain — The United States hosted two major multilateral meetings on maritime security with regional partners in Bahrain, June 25-26, involving nearly 200 participants who discussed opportunities for enhancing collaboration at sea.

June 26, 2023

Multilateral Maritime Security Meeting: Joint Statement from Participating Nations

MANAMA, Bahrain — The following is a joint statement from 22 nations and the Gulf Cooperation Council that participated in a maritime security meeting hosted by U.S. Naval Forces Central Command at the U.S. Navy base in Bahrain:

June 8, 2023

USAFCENT flexes air-to-ground capabilities in historic first for BTF

AL UDEID AIR BASE, Qatar — Ninth Air Force (Air Forces Central) aircraft joined 2 B-1B Lancers over the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, along with five partner nations and other coalition forces, during a Bomber Task Force mission, June 8.

June 4, 2023

U.S., UK Navies Respond to Merchant Vessel Distress Call in Strait of Hormuz

STRAIT OF HORMUZ — United States and United Kingdom Royal Navy forces responded to a distress call from a merchant vessel transiting the Strait of Hormuz, June 4, as Iranian fast-attack boats harassed the commercial ship.

June 2, 2023

55th Chief of Engineers Builds Bridges with Allied Nation Partners

When you work for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the figurative bridges you build are often just as important at the literal ones. This is true in local communities when helping people recover from natural disasters and it’s true around the world when partnering with U.S. allies to improve their defense and engineering capabilities. The 55th Chief of Engineers Lt. Gen. Scott Spellmon recently had a hand in building those bridges while visiting the Kingdom of Jordan and the State of Qatar – two long-standing U.S. allies currently working with USACE’s Transatlantic Middle East District (TAM) on defense infrastructure projects.

June 2, 2023

Exercise Intrepid Maven 23.3 Concludes in the United Arab Emirates

ABU DHABI – Intrepid Maven 23.3 concluded in the United Arab Emirates on May 22. The exercise included more than 100 U.S. Marines and Sailors, alongside partnering elements of the United Arab Emirates Armed Forces, who conducted infantry-based close-quarters combat training, live-fire close-air support exercises, and expeditionary airfield operations at several training locations throughout the country.

June 2, 2023

U.S. Marine Corps Sergeant Develops Total Force Deployment Dashboard to Win CENTCOM’s Innovation Oasis II Competition

TAMPA, Fla. — U.S. Central Command named U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Steven Matsunaga as the winner of its second CENTCOM Innovation Oasis competition on May 25, 2023, at CENTCOM headquarters in Tampa.