Redefining Endurance

Aug. 9, 2010

On Monday, the 55th Wing at Offutt AFB, Neb., will surpass 20 years of non-stop support of operations in Southwest Asia. This is believed to be the longest single continuous deployment in Air Force history, according to wing officials. “This achievement is truly remarkable,” said Brig. Gen. John Shanahan, commander of this RC-135 unit, which is known as the Fightin’ Fifty-Fifth. He added that “it’s amazing to think that we have new airmen assigned to the wing who were born after our first deployment to the region.” Members of the wing first arrived in Southwest Asia on Aug. 9, 1990, one week after Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait. Today, they average 3.1 deployments to the region per year. Currently the wing’s RC-135s fly with the 763rd Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron from an air base in the region. (Offutt report by Ryan Hansen)

Related Content

Refueling and Maneuvering Satellites in Orbit Is Key to National Security 

Dec. 23, 2024
“Military history shows that the best defense is almost always a maneuvering offense supported by solid logistics. This was true for mechanized land warfare, air combat, and naval operations since World War II. It will also be true as the world veers closer to military conflict in space,” writes Aidan…

How Miss America 2024 Took the Air Force Somewhere New

Dec. 20, 2024
When 2nd Lt. Madison Marsh became the first ever active service member crowned Miss America on Jan. 14, top Air Force officials recognized a rare opportunity to reach women and girls who otherwise might not consider military service as an option.

Why Do We Need a Space Force? Here’s This Guardian’s Answer

Dec. 20, 2024
“The Space Force is now five years old, yet most Americans don’t even know it exists, not to mention what it does or why we need it. That’s an uncomfortable fact and a problem for the entire nation that every Guardian needs to understand and take seriously,” writes retired USSF…

Experts: US Not Organized or Equipped for the Coming Electromagnetic Wars in Space 

Dec. 20, 2024
Space-based capabilities like GPS and satellite communications are vital to modern warfighting—and they are also most easily attackable via the electromagnetic spectrum via jamming or spoofing the radio transmissions that provide their command and control. But the Department of Defense’s electromagnetic warfare efforts in space are hamstrung by poor coordination…

Space Force, Air Force Need More Money, Kendall Says

Dec. 19, 2024
There’s a clear consensus within the Pentagon that the Space Force needs more money to tackle its growing mission and support the joint force—but don’t go raiding the Air Force’s budget to provide it, Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall said Dec. 19.