Several veteran C-130s from Ramstein AB, Germany, made a quick stop—only four minutes on the ground—at a dirt landing strip in central Africa, deploying soldiers to provide training for African forces supporting the war on terror. It was a test of joint operations to reach into sub-Saharan Africa for the new Africa Command. And, according to Capt. Justin Brumley, 37th Airlift Squadron pilot, the mission “would test the C-130’s capabilities to its fullest.” The 37th AS and 38th AS utilized E-model Hercules and crews that had been flying tactical airlift missions for operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. (Ramstein report by 1st Lt. Matthew Wunderlich)
The U.S. military is maintaining a beefed-up presence in the Middle East, including fighters and air defense assets, following the U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities June 22 and subsequent retaliation by the Iranians against Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar.
