Airmen of the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing at a major base of Air Force operations in Southwest Asia are laying the groundwork for the arrival of a battery of the Army’s Patriot air defense system to bolster the base’s security. “It’s a mutually-beneficial relationship,” said Lt. Col. Shane Capaldi, chief of plans and programs for the 380th AEW. He added, “The Air Force gets the superior protection that only Patriot [missiles] can offer, while the Army is able to beddown on a premier tactical site at an established base.” More than 200 soldiers are expected from Ft. Bliss, Tex., to operate the battery, which consists of a deployable command element, radar, missile launchers, and power generators. The Patriot is designed to defeat aircraft as well as cruise missiles and theater-range ballistic missiles. Airmen are involved in tasks like preparing new dormitories, renovating other facilities, and working host-nation security and site-selection issues. (380th AEW report by TSgt. Denise Johnson)
President Donald Trump’s nominee for Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff touted his highly unusual background for the job as an asset and reaffirmed his commitment to stay apolitical during a confirmation hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee on April 1.