Category: US Airforce Central Command

Source: United States Airforce Central Command

A multinational audience watches the XX perform an air demonstration as they tour U.S. military aircraft during the Saudi World Defense Show near Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Feb. 4, 2024. Saudi Arabia’s WDS 2024, one of the region’s largest defense expositions, includes a wide array of aircraft and assets from across the U.S. Department of Defense. The U.S. values its shared commitment and close cooperation with Saudi Arabia, coalition allies, and partners, which has enhanced the collective ability to counter a range of regional threats as a unified fighting force. (U.S. Air Force courtesy photo)

Source: United States Airforce Central Command

SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. —  

“At the direction of U.S. Central Command, U.S. Air Forces Central, CENTCOM’s Joint & Combined Air Component Command, executed deliberate strikes on over 60 targets at 16 Iranian-backed Houthi militant locations, including command and control nodes, munitions depots, launching systems, production facilities, and air defense radar systems.

Over 100 precision-guided munitions of various types were used in the strikes. These strikes were comprised of coalition air and maritime strike and support assets from across the region, including U.S. Naval Forces Central Command aircraft and Tomahawk Land Attack Missiles launched from surface and sub-surface platforms.

This multi-national strike reinforces the international community’s commitment to freedom of navigation and against repeated Houthi anti-ship ballistic missiles, unmanned aerial vehicles, and cruise missiles attacks on commercial and U.S. and coalition military vessels in the Red Sea.

We remain committed to our critical partners throughout the Middle East to defend against Iranian-backed Militia Groups, including Houthi militants, and the threat they pose to regional security and stability.”

Source: United States Airforce Central Command

UNDISCLOSED LOCATION, Southwest Asia —  

In an effort to promote self-improvement lifestyles, multiple units collaborated to launch a new initiative for deployed members.

The new Wing Wednesday Warrior Development program’s goal is to provide Airmen and Soldiers opportunities to learn about self-improvement methods and to develop leadership skills.

“We want to build leaders,” said U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Matthew Friese, the air expeditionary wing chaplain. “The intention is to get the involvement of Airmen and Soldiers in what we are trying to do by educating them on life skills and giving them leadership opportunities by having them present topics.”

The program was started by the installation helping agencies: the chapel corps, legal office, equal opportunity office, mental health clinic and public affairs.

Each Wednesday there is a 30 minute session conducted at the dining facility, minimizing time they would need to spend away from their daily mission-set.

“Most of us are going to eat lunch anyway, so here is an opportunity to come by, have lunch, learn something and be able to motor on with the day,” Friese said.

Some of the subjects covered are obtaining goals, financial readiness, and healthy professional and personal relationships.

Senior Airman Angelina Coleman, a force support squadron Airmen, attended a lesson on how life-hacks can be vital to one’s future and was inspired to work with the helping agencies to conduct a goal-oriented class.

Coleman, who joined the Air Force at 39, talked about the obstacles she had to overcome in order to be able to enlist in the service. Through small, focused goals, she was able to overcome the hardships and become a sister-in-arms.

“I think the program opens up a lot of opportunities to the Airmen on base,” Coleman said. “I [deployed] here with goals in mind and didn’t know what it would look like, but they are giving us the tools to make those goals successful here.”

The program gives attendees different perspectives and ways of achieving things, whether it is having better communication skills or being able to save extra cash.

According to the Department of Defense’s annual report on financial preparedness, approximately 52 percent of active duty service members save and invest regularly each month.

During the month of January, the topic is finances. Briefers are presenting materials on how to save efficiently and how to set goals to achieve financial freedom.

“All of this is intended so that people can come in and learn, gain and grow, wherever they find themselves at this particular season in life,” Friese said. “They will be able to add value into elements that they may learn and hear ideas that will make sense six months, a year, or even five years from now.”

Source: United States Airforce Central Command

SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. —  

U.S. Air Force Gen. Mark Kelly, commander of Air Combat Command, visits Airmen assigned to Ninth Air Force (Air Forces Central) Jan. 4, 2023, at Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina. During his visit, Kelly got a first-hand look at how Airmen support the ACC and U.S. Central Command mission at Shaw AFB, and recognized individuals for their exceptional performance. (U.S. Air Force photos by Tech. Sgt. Robert Porter and Tech. Sgt. Christopher Hubenthal)

Source: United States Airforce Central Command

U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Philip Miller, right, a Traffic Management Craftsman, receives multi-capable Airman training from Senior Airman Michael Kaminski, left, a U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon crew chief, for Exercise Ballast Cannon 24.3 at an undisclosed location in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, Jan. 7, 2024. Exercise Ballast Cannon occurs nearly quarterly with the Royal Bahraini Air Force to support the U.S. Air Force’s rapid expeditionary capabilities by integrating Agile Combat Employment objectives for F-16 Fighting Falcon, KC-135 Stratotanker, and operational support personnel. The long-standing relationships the U.S. Air Force has developed within the CENTCOM AOR enables regular and routine training which advances the coalition’s ability to become a seamless operational force across every warfighting domain. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. Megan Floyd)

Source: United States Airforce Central Command

Bahrain —  

Ninth Air Force (Air Forces Central)’s 378th Air Expeditionary Wing and 379th Air Expeditionary Wing are executing Ballast Cannon 24.3 alongside the Royal Bahraini Air Force, January 6-12, 2023, in Bahrain.

As a routine exercise occurring nearly quarterly with the Royal Bahraini Air Force, this iteration supports the U.S. Air Force’s rapid expeditionary capabilities by integrating Agile Combat Employment objectives for F-16 Fighting Falcon, KC-135 Stratotanker, and operational support personnel.

The bilateral training focuses on strengthening the bonds between coalition forces and building a foundation for future engagements in support of the Combined Defense of the Arabian Peninsula. The training objectives benefiting both nations include aerial refueling, coalition command and control, and tactical integration.

“Through decades of collaboration and cooperation with our wonderful partners in the region, we have developed key relationships, bolstering our ability to integrate and employ airpower across the coalition,” said U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Quaid Quadri, 378th Air Expeditionary Wing Commander.

“Together with our allies and partners, we continue to maintain and propel forward enduring institutions and networks necessary to remain agile and effective,” Quadri continued. “By constantly integrating with our partners at the tactical edge, while still testing our expeditionary capabilities, we are building readiness and developing operational approaches that complicate the adversary’s problem as well as maintains our strategic advantage.”

The long-standing relationships the U.S. Air Force has developed within the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility enables regular and routine training, which advances the coalition’s ability to become a seamless operational force across every warfighting domain.

Incorporating Agile Combat Employment concepts into the Ballast Cannon series support combined training and operations focused on enhancing strategic basing capabilities and strengthening coalition interoperability.