Airmen with the 22nd and 23rd Special Tactics Squadrons “joined” the Navy for contingency training aboard USS Alabama in the Pacific Ocean. The weeklong exercise provided experience on an Ohio-class submarine like those being converted from ballistic missile platforms to ones that can deliver Tomahawk tactical missiles and serve as a platform for up to 60 special operations forces. The STS airmen, from McChord AFB, Wash., and Hurlburt Field, Fla., practiced various scenarios including rescue missions and launch of tactical unmanned aerial vehicles for reconnaissance.
The incoming head of the 7th Air Force will face an intense mission while relying on 4th-generation fighters to stave off looming threats from North Korea and China.