Air Force leaders highlight contribution to warfighters

  • Published
  • By Donna Miles
  • American Forces Press Service
SOUTHWEST ASIA (AFPN) --  Participants in the Joint Civilian Orientation Course touring the U.S. Central Command area of operations April 29 learned about the mission the Air Force carries out in support of troops on the ground.

Lt. Gen. Gary North, commander of U.S. Central Command Air Forces, described the magnitude of the Air Force mission in Southwest Asia. The Air Force flies troops and their gear to and around the theater and delivers the beans, bullets and other logistics needed to sustain them. 

"We can move more stuff faster and farther than anyone else," he said.

But the Air Force makes other direct contributions to warfighters on the ground, General North told the civilian business, civic and academic leaders. 

It serves as the troops' eyes and ears in the sky with intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance support, alerting ground forces to threats and tracking enemy activity. And when called on by ground forces, the Air Force delivers close-air support that, by killing enemy forces and taking out important targets, saves U.S., coalition and Iraqi lives, General North said.

"Our main focus is to support the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines on the ground," he said.

This broad range of missions depends on the support of every Airman in the theater, including those who fly the airplanes, the refuelers and maintenance crews who keep them in the air and others on the ground who support them.

The intratheater tactical airlift system replaces what would amount to tens of thousands of truck deliveries. 

"Our people are helping keep young servicemembers off the roads and out of harm's way," said Brig. Gen. Ted Kresge, commander of the 4,000-plus-member 379th Air Expeditionary Wing.

Other Air Force assets increase ground troops' situational awareness so they're better able to stay a step ahead of the enemy, he said.

Capt. Andrew Prue, an electronic warfare officer for the RC-135 Rivet Joint aircraft, which monitors intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, described the plane as "a big sponge" that collects information and passes it to tactical operators on the ground. 

"We want to make sure we find the bad guys before they find the good guys," said Staff Sgt. Adam Triplett, a linguist aboard the aircraft. "We're in constant communication with the guys on the ground so we can provide that protection."

The E-8C Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System, more commonly known as JSTARS, provides support with a new twist that's adapted to the current "fourth-generation" fight. Instead of providing command and control for a traditional Cold War-era scenario, the system is helping flush out insurgents in Iraq and Afghanistan and ensuring ground troops get the support they need. 

F-15E Strike Eagle fighter jets, too, are adapting their tactics to better support ground troops. Unlike the early days in Operation Iraqi Freedom, only about one in 20 sorties ever drops munitions these days, said 1st Lt. Kyle Meyer, a weapons system officer.

"A lot of what we do right now is look for (improvised explosive devices)," he said. "We talk to the guys on the ground, look for broken-down trucks or suspicious activity."

Often, pilots spot a patch of roadway that has been disturbed by insurgents planting a roadside bomb, and warn troops on the ground. They also watch convoys from above, alerting them to what's ahead.

"This is a new art we are developing," General Kresge told the JCOC group about the non-traditional missions. "We're making this up as we go along. But this nontraditional use of our resources is helping to save lives -- American lives and Iraqi lives."

Although missions involving munitions have dropped dramatically in the past six months, the Air Force stands ready 24/7 to deliver terrorists what General North called "a message from America." 

"A troop in need on the ground could die if we're not there in time," General North said. "And there's not a person on the ground who doesn't appreciate that they're 10 minutes away from support fire when they need it."

Sometimes a simple show of force by an aircraft whizzing by overhead, often at a very low altitude, can do the trick. 

"The presence of an aircraft overhead sends a pretty strong message," General North said. "Everybody knows what an airplane can bring."

General Kresge praised his Airmen, who conduct this wide range of missions around the clock, living in difficult conditions far from their families. 

"They know they are part of something big and important," he told the group. "You can see it in their extraordinary performance."

Troops in the theater supporting the mission said they're gratified to know they're making a difference for troops on the ground.

"What better way to help those guys?" Lieutenant Meyer said of his IED- and insurgent-seeking efforts. Hearing after the fact that he helped identify a bomb before it hurt someone or assisted in capturing a terrorist "is an awesome feeling," he said. "It's exciting. It's cool. And we've had a lot of success."

"We have to be able to protect what we have at home," said Tech. Sgt. Jack Fiveash, a crew chief for the 12th Expeditionary Airborne Command and Control Squadron.  "I have a family and two kids, and I don't want them to have to deal with all this sometime in the future. The quicker we get this done and get a stable democracy in Iraq, the better. My hope is that we remain here until we get it done and can send Iraq off to a stabilized future."

Lt. Col. Willie Holt, commander of the 379th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, said keeping the wing's planes flying has a direct impact on security, not just in Southwest Asia, but also in the United States. 

"It comes down to the fact that you have to fight the enemy here rather than have them come to our back yard," he said.