Gen. Michael Moseley reminded reporters at the Pentagon late last week that the Air Force has been engaged in the Middle East since August 1990. “The Air Force has been in continual combat since that time—16 straight years through operations Desert Shield, Desert Storm, Northern Watch, Southern Watch, Vigilant Warrior, Desert Fox, and now operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom,” explained the Air Force Chief of Staff. And, while engaged in those operations, he added: “The Air Force has also conducted simultaneous combat ops in Somalia, Bosnia, Kosovo, and over Serbia. No other component or service can say that.” Out of this “continued combat experience,” said Moseley, the Air Force has incorporated a wealth of lessons learned, changing its training practices and expeditionary deployments.
The six-week government shutdown did not affect the hours flown by Air Force pilots, a service spokesperson told Air & Space Forces Magazine—avoiding what could have been a major blow at a time when flying hours are already lower than they have been in decades.
