Air Force Reserve Command’s 555th RED HORSE combat engineers and their active duty cohorts, the 820th RED HORSE, both assigned to Nellis AFB, Nev., have started on a six-month deployment to Balad AB, Iraq. It’s the first time the 555th has deployed since the Vietnam War, reports journalist SrA. Travis Edwards. In Iraq, the RED HORSE airmen will assist the Army in getting ready to sustain a growing number of ground forces and with other Army construction tasks. Before leaving the US, the airmen are going through weapons and other combat skills training at Ft. McCoy, Wis.
The Air Force could conduct an operation like Israel's successful air campaign against Iran's nuclear sites, military leadership and air defenses, but readiness issues would make it risky, airpower experts said. Limited spare parts and training, low mission capable rates and few flying hours would put a drag on USAF's…