09/21/2017: Seven F-15Cs deployed from RAF Lakenheath are in Lithuania to conduct NATO Air Policing.
The United States Air Force assumed control of the NATO Baltic Air Policing mission from the Polish air force during a hand-over, take-over ceremony at Šiauliai Air Base, Lithuania, Aug. 30, 2017.
LITHUANIA
08.30.2017
Video by Tech. Sgt. Jessica Hines
Headquarters U.S. Air Forces in Europe and Air Forces Africa
09/20/2017: Marines work alongside Australian Defense Force as part of exercise Crocodile Strike.
AUSTRALIA:08.25.2017
Video by Senior Airman Dhruv Gopinath
American Forces Network Pacific
09/19/2017: The essential support sections for the F/A-18F Super Hornet are key in ensuring the aircraft is prepared and ready to fly the next mission.
In this video we take a look at the maintenance, armaments and life support sections and what happens between returning from a mission and getting the aircraft ready for the next.
The ATG is deployed on Operation OKRA and is operating at the request of the Iraqi Government with a US-led Global Coalition assembled to disrupt and degrade Daesh operations in the Middle East Region (MER).
The ATG comprises six RAAF F/A-18F Super Hornet fighter aircraft, an E-7A Wedgetail airborne command and control aircraft, and a KC-30A Multi-Role Tanker Transport aircraft. Additionally, the ATG has personnel working in the Combined Air and Space Operations Centre, and embedded with the ‘Kingpin’ US tactical Command and Control Unit.
The ATG is directly supported by elements of Operation ACCORDION including the Theatre Communications Group, Air Mobility Task Group, and the Expeditionary Airbase Operations Unit.
There are up to 350 Australian Defence Force personnel deployed, at any one time, as part of, or in direct support of the ATG.
Credit:Department of Defence, Australia
August 30, 2017
09/19/2017: The E-7A Wedgetail as part of the Air Task Group (ATG) recently completed an operational level clearance with a Royal Netherlands Air Force KDC-10 Multi-Role Tanker Transport while flying in support of Operation OKRA.
Operational clearance used when short notice clearance is required for critical opertational requirments.
The Wedgetail is cleared to refuel with the KC-10 Extender which is a similar airframe.
The ATG is deployed on Operation OKRA and is operating at the request of the Iraqi Government within a US-led global coalition assembled to disrupt and degrade Daesh in the Middle East Region (MER).
The ATG comprises six RAAF F/A-18F Super Hornet fighter aircraft, an E-7A Wedgetail airborne command and control aircraft, and a KC-30A Multi-Role Tanker Transport aircraft.
Additionally, the ATG has personnel working in the Combined Air and Space Operations Centre, and embedded with the ‘Kingpin’ US tactical Command and Control Unit.
The ATG is directly supported by elements of Operation ACCORDION including the Theatre Communications Group, Air Mobility Task Group, and the Expeditionary Airbase Operations Unit, whose mission is to provide airbase and aviation operational support to sustain air operations in the MER. There are up to 350 personnel deployed, at any one time, as part of, or in direct support of the ATG.
Credit: Department of Defence, Australia
August 25, 2017
09/18/2017: A U.S. Air National Guard C-130J Aircraft from the 146th Airlift Wing, equipped with the Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System (MAFFS) follow a U.S. Forrest Service lead plane under a large column of smoke preparing to drop retardant on the Pier Fire southeast of Fresno California, August 30, 2017.
Air National Guard and Air Force Reserves C-130 aircraft equipped with the MAFFS systems have been assisting United States Forrest Service wildfire suppression efforts out of Fresno Air Tanker Base since August 10, 2017.
Together they have accomplished more than 200 drops and 530,000 gallons of retardant this season.
Video by Staff Sgt. Nicholas Carzis:08.29.2017
146 Airlift Wing, Public Affairs, California Air National Guard
09/18/2017: A national commemorative service to mark the 70th Anniversary of Australian Peacekeeping and a dedication ceremony for the new Australian Peacekeeping Memorial was held at the site of the new memorial on Anzac Parade, Canberra on Thursday 14 September 2017.
The public event was attended by His Excellency General the Honourable Sir Peter Cosgrove AK MC (Ret’d), Governor General of the Commonwealth of Australia; His Excellency General the Honourable David Hurley AC, DSC (Ret’d), Governor of New South Wales and Chief Patron of the Australian Peacekeeping Memorial Project; Minister for Veterans Affairs’ the Honourable Dan Tehan MP; Air Chief Marshal Mark Binskin AC, Chief of the Australian Defence Force; Air Marshal Leo Davies AO, CSC, Chief of Air Force; Rear Admiral Gregory Sammut, AM, CSC, Royal Australian Navy , and Major General Rick Burr DSC AM MVO, Deputy Chief of Army amongst many others including former and current peacekeepers, and their families.
The new Peacekeeping memorial in Canberra commemorates the courage, sacrifice and service of Australian peacekeepers and it honours Australia’s contribution to international peacekeeping missions since the first UN deployment in 1947.
Since 1947, Australia has provided over 65,000 military and police personnel to more than 62 United Nations and other multinational peace and security operations around the globe.
Australian Department of Defence
9/14/17
09/16/2017: USS Ronald Reagan on deployment.
09.12.2017
Video by Daniel Zaborowski
All Hands Update
09/15/2017: Exercise Crocodile Strike 2017 is a bilateral training activity in Northern Australia from 20 to 31 August 2018 involving approximately 80 personnel, drawn from the Australian Defence Force, the US Marine Rotational Force-Darwin and the 4th Marine Regiment from Okinawa, Japan.
The Exercise is focused on interoperability and cooperation in Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Response scenarios within a contested environment, and includes the delivery of small community-focused projects to the remote community Warruwi on South Goulburn Island, about 300 kilometres east of Darwin.
The Exercise Crocodile Strike provides an opportunity to promote the benefits of Australian and US security cooperation and our increasing interoperability in humanitarian assistance and disaster response activities.
On 23-24 August 2017 a group of senior Defence officers from Japan, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam visited the Northern Territory to learn more about the Force Posture Initiatives and observe Exercise Crocodile Strike.
Credit:Australian Department of Defence
August 24, 2017