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Train the world’s greatest F-35 and F-16 fighter pilots Feb. 26, 2016
Vol. 16, No. 8
INSIDE 7ULHGWUXHWDNHRIIUHDG\«
STORIES
GI Bill changes, 3
ALS grads, 4
KC-135 saves F-16, 5
Physique champ at Luke, 7
AF Week in photos, 13
FEATURE
Staff Sgt. Luther Mitchell Jr.
Six F-16 Fighting Falcons await instructions prior to launch Tuesday at the end of the runaway at Luke Air Force Base. The
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Airman 1st Class Shan Ridge Airpower key to ISIL fight; strikes to continue
F-35s OUT FOR THE EVENING FORT GEORGE G. MEADE, Md. — food and medicine to starving civilians in Coalition aircraft, he said, have per-
The head of Operation Inherent Resolve’s besieged Syrian towns. formed almost 120 airstrikes on bulk cash
See Page 10 air campaign said Feb. 18 the “most precise sites, gas and oil separation plants, and
air campaign in history” has severely hurt “It doesn’t stop operations against Daesh crude oil collection points to date.
INDEX terrorist plans across Iraq and Syria, with or ISIL,” Brown said of the relief effort. “The
more airstrikes to come. areas where most of the humanitarian aid Eight coalition nations recently dropped
Action line ............................. 2 is going are areas where we don’t operate.” about 80 precision-guided bombs at the
Briefs..................................... 3 “There is no doubt coalition airpower heart of terrorist command and control,
Spotlight ................................ 4 has and continues to dramatically de- The general also denied coalition involve- logistics and sanctuary areas in Al Qaim,
Diversions ........................... 16 grade Daesh’s ability to fight and conduct ment in the Feb. 15 bombing of four hospi- Iraq, and Abu Kamal, Syria, during another
Sports.................................. 19 operations,” Lt. Gen. Charles Brown Jr., tals and a school in northern Syria that left set of strikes, according to the general.
commander of U.S. Air Forces Central dozens of people dead.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK Command, said of the terrorist group also “The objective of the coalition airstrikes
known as the Islamic State of Iraq and “There are only two people flying in that was to restrict Daesh movement throughout
“Every action we take and every de- the Levant. area — the Russians and the Syrians,” the Euphrates River Valley,” he said.
cision we make molds the foundation Brown said of the non-coalition forces. “I can
for the path ahead. Our warrior ethos Ongoing missions by the 19-nation air guarantee you that it wasn’t the coalition.” Airpower has been instrumental in
and our Airman’s creed pay homage to coalition is exploiting ISIL’s weaknesses, ground operations, particularly in Ramadi,
those who came before us, those who as its leaders and fighters flee in large Accurate strikes a former stronghold for the extremists.
paved the way and those that made numbers due to effective airpower, said Brown also touted successful airstrikes
the ultimate sacrifice.” Brown, who serves as the operation’s com- against ISIL-controlled oil facilities and “The recent success of Iraqi Security
bined forces air component commander. monetary centers, saying that they’ve Forces in clearing Ramadi comes after
Master Sgt. Michael Hamill crippled their financial resources. This has months of supporting ground forces with
56th Aerospace Medicine Squadron “As the coalition has garnered a greater resulted in ISIL cutting funds to its fighters close air support,” he said.
understanding of the enemy, our airpower and combat operations.
WEATHER efforts have evolved and it’s clear airpower During strikes Feb. 13, Air Force and Brown credited airstrikes with helping
is a vital element to this fight,” Brown said Navy aircraft wiped out five financial tar- take back the city of Sinjar in northern
Today from Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar. gets in a few minutes in downtown Mosul, Iraq, as well as Hasakah and the Tishreen
Iraq, using precision-guided bombs, he said. Dam in Syria.
80°/56° Persistent ops “I think it surprised Daesh because we
There are no plans for the air campaign were able to do very precise weaponeering “We are making progress,” he said. “We
Sunny to be impacted by a possible ceasefire to in order to strike them and also minimize will continue delivering airpower to destroy
let nongovernmental agencies deliver civilian casualties,” he said. and eventually defeat Daesh.”
Courtesy of af.mil
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