LAUGHLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- For the first half of 2016, I was granted the opportunity to contribute to the most precise air campaign in history.
As one of more than 16,000 U.S. Air Forces Central Command personnel supporting an initiative against violent extremist known as Da’esh in the Middle East, I was afforded a position in the senior leaders’ inner circle and a responsibility to manage data flow to and from the commanding general.
For six months, our team of eight commander’s action group personnel vetted correspondence, schedules, congressional visits, area of responsibility trips, foreign military engagements, and other support functions. The sheer amount of in and outbound data was baffling at first exposure.
In short order, our team, consisting of a test pilot, B-1 Lancer pilot (a prior instructor pilot at Laughlin), air battle manager, E-3 Sentry pilot, engineer, medic and two former missileers, banded together to equip the AFCENT commander with the tools and information required to lead an air campaign comprising 20 coalition countries.
During those six months supporting Operations Inherent Resolve and Resolute Support, coalition airpower released over 17,000 weapons striking Da’esh revenue streams, which restricted freedom of movement, destroyed improvised explosive device factories and ultimately enabled ground forces to have the tactical advantage.
Our team witnessed the recapitalization of Afghan air force aircrew training initiatives while advocating for AAF growth to in-theater attack and airlift capabilities.
In April, following a 26-year hiatus, we facilitated the first basing of B-52 Stratofortresses in the U.S. Central Command AOR. Prior to April, the last B-52 operational flight in the AOR supported Operation Enduring Freedom in May 2006.
The B-52s picked up where the B-1s left off as the air coalition continued its emphasis on the deep fight, striking Da’esh before they had the ability to attack ground forces. Needless to say, each munition has a specific purpose and is placed in an exact spot.
In campaigns such as OIR and ORS, accuracy is critically important as 99 percent of the munitions delivered are precision-guided.
Precise strikes, like the one in downtown Mosul Jan. 18, 2016, put eight 2,000-pound joint direct attack munitions through one hole to destroy a Da’esh bank. Successful strikes such as this have resulted in Da’esh cutting pay to their fighters, forcing them to change their tactics and recruitment efforts.
Every so often, Airmen are afforded an opportunity to experience and contribute to a career-defining moment that galvanizes our Air Force pride, demands 100 percent and repays our sacrifices by bestowing global perspective and purpose.
On this deployment, I was more than just a space professional or an inspector. I was an Airman working alongside fellow Airmen, Sailors, Marines, Soldiers and coalition forces toward a common cause.
Yes, the hours were long, meetings plentiful and workload seemingly endless, but at the end of each day, I walked away knowing that the commanding general was equipped with the tools and data needed to execute his responsibilities – responsibilities that encompassed 9 wings and 26 joint task forces at 108 locations in 22 countries.
Those six months were just a small portion of the now 15-year campaign in the Middle East. However, hopefully the impact of that period will continue to resonate for years to come.