The 35th Fighter Wing at Misawa AB, Japan, redeployed its 14th Fighter Squadron airmen from Balad AB, Iraq, deploying in their stead airmen of the wing’s 13th FS for the current Air and Space Expeditionary Force rotation. First Lt. Shannon Collins reports that the 14th FS, supported by 35th FW maintainers, flew some 1,400 sorties for 5,800 hours over Iraq for AEF 6 and 7. The two units fly the Block 50 F-16CJ fighters, which normally conduct suppression of enemy air defense operations. In Iraq, though, they flew close air support, using their advanced targeting pods.
The Air Force is placing Air Combat Command in charge of teaching combat tactics to fighter and remotely-piloted aircraft units, according to a May 12 announcement. Beginning this summer, the service will reassign the formal training units for the F-35, F-16, and MQ-9 from Air Education and Training Command to…