Bomber crews keep watch over operations in Southwest Asia

The sun casts a silhouette of a B-1B Lancer assigned to the 37th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron Jan. 23, 2010, at an air base in Southwest Asia. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Manuel J. Martinez)

SOUTHWEST ASIA (AFNS) -- Airmen from the 37th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron validated their capabilities and those of the B-1B Lancer during a deployment that concluded Jan. 27, here.

37th EBS Airmen generated 556 sorties, flew more than 6,980 hours, and dropped more than 240 munitions for more than 550 missions during their deployment to Southwest Asia.

"We are very proud of what we have been able to accomplish during this deployment," said Lt. Col. Steven Biggs, the 37th EBS commander. "The achievements of our Airmen during this rotation are reflective of the rich heritage of the B-1B."

"We were able to show why the B-1B and the Airmen who support the aircraft have been valuable assets to the Air Force for more than 25 years," said Lt. Col. John Martin, the 37th EBS B-1B instructor weapons system officer and director of operations.

They also made a difference during the attack on Combat Outpost Keating in October 2009, when hundreds of insurgents armed with assault rifles and rocket-propelled grenades attacked Soldiers there.

After more than 10 hours of bombing and strafing from a B-1B Lancer and F-15E Strike Eagles, nearly 100 militants were killed by the combined response that included Afghan soldiers as well as U.S. air and ground units. Eight Americans and three Afghans were killed, while nine Americans and 11 Afghans were wounded, according to Combined Joint Task Force-82 officials.

"There is no doubt that without the incredible air support we received, it would have been a much worse day," said Army Lt. Col. Robert Brown, the 3-61 Cavalry commander from the 4th Infantry Division. "The ability to keep a steady flow of aircraft and ordnance on the enemy turned what could have been a terrible defeat into a hard fought victory."

"It is great to be a part of a mission like that," Colonel Martin said. "To be able to help defeat the enemy after they attack us is something our Airmen will always remember."

While the accomplishments in the air have been numerous for these bomber aircrews, none of it would be possible without the 37th Aircraft Maintenance Unit on the ground.

"Each of our Airmen has put about 72 man-hours a week into making sure our aircraft are ready to do the mission," said Capt. Chris Reese, the 37th AMU officer in charge. "We turned over 100 percent of our aircraft ready to fly. We are very proud of our team."

380th AEW mission expands with Navy Global Hawk program

by Staff Sgt. Mike Andriacco, 380th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs

Personnel from the Broad Area Maritime Surveillance maintenance detachment tend to a Navy Global Hawk unmanned aircraft that arrived at this airbase in Southwest Asia from Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Md. This is the first operational deployment for the BAMS aircraft after its test and development phase. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Mike Andriacco)

SOUTHWEST ASIA (AFNS) -- The joint mission of the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing expanded with the recent addition of the first operational Navy Global Hawk unmanned aircraft system, part of the Broad Area Maritime Surveillance program.

"It's a good feeling to finally get the aircraft here," said Navy Lt. Cmdr. John McLellan, the BAMS maintenance detachment officer-in-charge. "Now that we have the launch and recovery element and mission asset, we can finally bring this capability to the fight."

The BAMS is launched and recovered locally but controlled from the mission control element, or MCE, at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Md., much like the Air Force Global Hawk, which is controlled from Beale Air Force Base, Calif.

In an Air Force-developed concept of operations called remote-split operations, the BAMS' arrival marks the culmination of more than five months of joint effort to stand up a maritime surveillance presence in the region.

Navy officials answered a Department of Defense call for increased intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance assets in Southwest Asia, by sending a site survey team here in August to see if the facilities of the 380th AEW could support an added mission and to discuss joint interoperability.

After the evaluation by 380th Expeditionary Maintenance Group personnel, it was determined they could support adding the BAMS with shared use of maintenance equipment and facilities, according to Lt. Col. Matt Venzke, 380th EMXG deputy commander. This allows Navy officials to cut down their overall footprint, resulting in lower operating costs and fewer people needed, he said.

"The cooperation has really been there," Colonel Venske said. "We've worked very well together to identify potential problems and de-conflict our work spaces to make sure everything is happening efficiently for both maintenance teams."

The sentiment is echoed by Navy personnel who arrived on station approximately one month ago and began integrating into the 380th.

"The support has been outstanding," said Commander McLellan. "We have really been made to feel at home and a part of the team."

The Navy and the Air Force benefit from co-locating Global Hawk operations.

"The similarities between the Air Force and Navy Global Hawk (launch and recovery elements) provide enhanced mission capability by allowing each service to use the other's LRE as a back-up in the event of a malfunction", said Col. Kyle Garland, 380th Expeditionary Operations Group commander.

Navy personnel leverage Air Force expertise and proficiency with the Global Hawk platform to step into a program that has been proven in an operational environment, virtually eliminating the learning curve that usually comes with a new program, said Maj. Ronald Shivers, 99th Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron director of operations and safety observer for the arrival of the BAMS.

Operators during the BAMS development phase consisted of contractors and pilots from both the Air Force and Navy. In addition to controlling the aircraft at the forward operating location, Air Force instructors will train naval aviators. The first two scheduled are to take flight control at the MCE sometime in March, said Major Shivers.

Experts in the two services have been able to come together to develop a process that will ensure differences in operational and maintenance rules and standards are identified and resolved quickly.

"In areas (of maintenance) where we overlap, the BAMS maintenance personnel will adhere to the more stringent standard required by either service," said Colonel Venzke.

Though it is the first operational mission for the BAMS, the aircraft has been in service for non-wartime missions during its test and development phase.

"Our Global Hawk has been used to view damaged areas during the California wildfires as well as providing live feedback of the destruction on the Gulf Coast immediately after Hurricanes Gustav and Ike," said Commander McLellan.

The speed at which the Air Force and Navy were able to stand up the new operational capability with minimal difficulties is an example of joint operations at their best, officials said.

C-130J deploys to Southwest Asia

by 2nd Lt. Tania Bryan, 379th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
A C-130J Hercules arrives to the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing Feb. 8 at a Southwest Asia air base. The C-130J is from the 41st Airlift Squadron from Little Rock Air Force Base, Ark. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Domonique Simmons)

SOUTHWEST ASIA (AFPN) -- Members of the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing here welcomed the newest member of its fleet Feb. 8 as a C-130J Hercules landed in Southwest Asia.

"We're not only the first active duty, C-130J deployment, it's also a record-setting event," said Lt. Col. Dan Tulley, the 41st Airlift Squadron commander.

"We stood up two squadrons, people and airplanes, and deployed in 10 months," the colonel said.

The 41st AS moved in 2007 to Little Rock Air Force Base, Ark., from Pope AFB, N.C. The new unit stood up and converted to a new weapon system at the same time, starting April 5, 2007, and now are deployed, Colonel Tulley said.

The C-130Js from the 41st AS will combine with C-130Es from both the 61st Airlift Squadron from Little Rock AFB and the 2nd Airlift Squadron from Pope AFB, as well as C-130Hs from the Air Force Reserve Command's 357th Airlift Squadron at Maxwell AFB, Ala., to form the 746th AS here. The squadron will reactivate in mid-February.

Combining the Reserve and active-duty squadrons into one cohesive unit creates a unique opportunity for the crews to learn from one another. Taking four distinct squadrons that don't normally work together at their home stations, and uniting them in a deployed environment, may seem like a daunting task, but Colonel Tulley said the strengths each of them bring to the fight far surpasses any challenges they will have to overcome.

The C-130J began to replace the aging C-130E in 1999. Although the J model has deployed to the area of responsibility before, this deployment is significant because it's a total force effort, the colonel said.

"AFRC brings a lot of experience, and between the different units -- Maxwell, Pope and Little Rock (Air Force bases) -- (working together) should be a great opportunity to share knowledge and expertise on handling a C-130 in combat," he said.

We have already seen what the J model's capabilities are through defense training over the past 10 months and now we are looking forward to testing the aircraft in combat, Colonel Tulley said.

"The J model has much longer legs and a much greater lift capacity because of the extra two pallet positions. It's also very reliable because it is brand new," Colonel Tulley said. "(The C-130J model) has been lucky enough to be among the first to get the benefit of being recapitalized."