Airmen in Southwest Asia with the 8th Expeditionary Air Mobility Squadron are handling two separate Army movements, requiring them to load an extra 27 to 36 pallets of supplies and equipment every day aboard USAF C-17s or contract cargo aircraft for redistribution within the theater, reports SrA. Erik Hofmeyer. And, SSgt. Kevin Tomko relates much the same story for 455th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron airmen, who are working 12-hours shifts, seven days a week to keep the surge in cargo moving through Bagram AB, Iraq.
The U.S. military is maintaining a beefed-up presence in the Middle East, including fighters and air defense assets, following the U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities June 22 and subsequent retaliation by the Iranians against Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar.
