Official Site of the U.S. Air Force   Right Corner Banner
Join the Air Force

News > Air Force supports defense of Turkey
 
Photos
Previous ImageNext Image
Altus AFB assists AMC, Fort Sill to deploy defense systems in support of NATO
Staff Sgt. Xavier Drake drives an Air Force Humvee as part of a convoy from Fort Sill, Okla. to Altus Air Force Base, Okla., Jan. 3, 2013. The 97th Security Forces Squadron escorted multiple convoys of Soldiers from the 31st Air Defense Artillery Brigade, Fort Sill, to Altus AFB to deploy to Turkey. The deployment followed U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta's orders Dec. 14, 2012 to deploy batteries of Patriot air defense systems. Staff Sgt. Xavier Drake is a base defense operations controller (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Kenneth W. Norman)
Download HiRes
 
Related Links
 31st Air Defense Artillery
 NATO
 
Related Factsheets
 C-17 Globemaster III
 KC-10 Extender
 KC-135 Stratotanker
Air Force supports defense of Turkey

Posted 1/8/2013   Updated 1/8/2013 Email story   Print story

    

1/8/2013 - ALTUS AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. (AFNS) -- Mobility Airmen are enabling their Army counterparts to meet a Secretary of Defense order to move two Patriot anti-missile batteries and hundreds of Soldiers to support Turkey, a U.S. ally.

According to officials, Airmen worked around the clock to support a NATO request to deploy two Patriot batteries to Turkey. The deployment is a defensive measure intended to deescalate the situation along the Syrian border while demonstrating NATO resolve.

"This operation is a great example of how Airmen support our allies across the globe every day," said Brig. Gen. Larry Martin, the 618th Air and Space Operations Center (Tanker Airlift Control Center) vice commander. "The Air Force has the means to provide rapid global mobility in support of an important ally to demonstrate the strength and capability of both the U.S. and the NATO Alliance."

The operation is expected to extend into early next week, culminating in the deployment of approximately 400 U.S. service members and equipment.

One KC-10 Extender, KC-135 Stratotanker air refuelers, and six C-5 Galaxy airlifters will transport the Patriot batteries and much of the equipment and personnel belonging to the 3d Battalion, 2d Air Defense Artillery Regiment, Fort Sill, Okla., directly from Altus AFB to Turkey. Additionally, several C-17 Globemaster III aircraft will depart here to create an air bridge allowing further deliveries into Turkey, officials said.

According to air mobility leaders, an effort of this speed and scope in the midst of ongoing support to forces throughout Southwest Asia demands contributions from a total force team of active, Air National Guard and Reserve Airmen.

That team includes planners, mobility liaisons, contingency response Airmen, aircrews, maintainers and dozens of other support personnel.

"Mobility Airmen are proud to be part of an amazing joint team supporting NATO," Martin said. "We take great pride in making complex global mobility requirements a reality."

Participating units include Airmen and aircraft from Bangor, Maine; Pease, N.H.; Joint Base McGuire-Dix Lakehurst, N.J.; Pittsburgh Pa.; Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas; Westover Air Reserve Base, Mass.; and Martinsburg, W.Va.

According to a NATO news release, Germany, the Netherlands and the United States offered to deploy two Patriot batteries each to Turkey. Germany will deploy its batteries to Kahramanmaras, the Netherlands will deploy its batteries to Adana, and the United States will deploy its batteries to Gaziantep.

(Courtesy of 18th Air Force Public Affairs)



tabComments
1/11/2013 8:21:24 AM ET
Why Spend money at home
Ed, East coast
 
Add a comment

 Inside AF.mil

ima cornerSearch

tabSubscribe AF.MIL
tabMore HeadlinesRSS feed 
Academy cadets deploy, experience expeditionary life   4

AF aerial firefighters continue to battle West Fork Complex fire

Air Force announces preferred alternative for security forces regional training center consolidation  1

CSAF to sponsor 3 captains for PhD program  1

Davis-Monthan Airmen work to end veteran homelessness by 2015

Jennies to jets to stealth: Bomb wing turns 90

Concentration camp survivor to fighter pilot: 'Freedom a beautiful thing'  6

Wounded warriors adapt, overcome at Andrews sports camp

Pilots, combat systems officers may be eligible for retention incentives   8

Alert Reaper Airmen find IED  1

Luke AFB F-16 crashes, pilots safely eject  4

AF drops 50,000 plus gallons of retardant on Colorado fires

352nd SOG welcomes Osprey to fleet

SecDef: DOD welcomes Supreme Court decision  41

tabCommentaryRSS feed 
Our commitment, our community

'Lucky' people take personal responsibility for their own success  16


Site Map      Contact Us     Questions     USA.gov     Security and Privacy notice     E-publishing  
Suicide Prevention      Sexual Assault Awareness & Prevention     FOIA     IG   EEO