Number of Missions—7,000 and Counting

Number of Missions—7,000 and Counting: The

Air Force's fleet of RC-135 Rivet Joint surveillance aircraft have flown more than 7,000 combat missions supporting US Central Command in Afghanistan, Iraq, and the Horn of Africa. The milestone flight came on Feb. 6 with a mission over Afghanistan. The Rivet Joint has flown combat operations in the CENTCOM area of responsibility since August 1990 under Desert Shield, the run-up to the first Gulf War. Since then, officials at Offutt AFB, Neb., home to the 55th Wing, estimate the Rivet Joint force has flown more than 50,000 combat hours in Southwest Asia. "It's been a real honor to be in a program that has been in theater for 19 years now," said MSgt. Jeffrey Parris, an airborne mission supervisor, deployed with the 763rd Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron. Lt. Col. Tom Nicholson, 763rd ERS commander, noted, "Seven thousand missions is a big deal for us." He said that the mission of the recon platform had changed over the years from a strategic focus to a tactical information focus. The strategic capability still exists with "a broad spectrum of collections under the [signals intelligence] moniker, so we do have products that go national and they are significant," explained Nicholson. However, he added that the number of operators on the platform enables them to "really focus" on a tactical level." (379th Air Expeditionary Wing report by SrA. Brok McCarthy)

2/9/2009

Verbatim

Appreciative Host
"I know you're here during a difficult time. You're here through Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's. I promise you, we will find turkeys."
—Republic of Lithuania Chief of Defence Maj. Gen. Arvydas Pocius, expressing his thanks to airmen of the 493rd Fighter Squadron from RAF Lakenheath, Britain, who on Sept. 1, 2010, began a four-month stint with their F-15s in Lithuania to protect the airspace of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania under NATO's Baltic air policing mission.

Verbatim

Family Momentum
"In many ways, this was what the Year of the Air Force Family was all about—connecting airmen and their families with the resources they need. I have confidence the Air Force will capitalize on this strong momentum in the years ahead by continuing to improve our family support programs and ensuring people know what resources are available."
—Suzie Schwartz, wife of USAF Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz, commenting on the accomplishments of the Year of the Air Force Family initiative that concluded in July, in a statement provided to the Daily Report, Aug. 22, 2010.