The 347th Rescue Wing based at Moody AFB, Ga., has saved 122 people in Afghanistan since June 1. The total includes 66 people with “potentially fatal injuries” and 56 people with “critical injuries,” according to an Air Combat Command release. The airmen of the 347th RQW deployed to Southwest Asia are performing one of USAF’s latest “in lieu of” missions—conducting medical evacuation from the point of injury to theater medical facilities—normally handled by the Army. “We support the Army, Marines and Navy. … We support anyone who gets injured in theater, including coalition members in the Afghan Army, Iraqi Army and civilians,” said Col. Eric Kivi, 347th Operations Group commander.
The Space Force is playing a key role in planning for “Golden Dome,” President Donald Trump’s initiative for comprehensive air and missile defense of the homeland, leaders said this week. But actually building and fielding the ambitious idea will require a major concerted effort across the Pentagon and intelligence community.