German and US Airmen Train at Mountain Home: More than 300 German and USAF air and ground crews are working together at Mountain Home AFB, Idaho, through Friday in the final stage of training for weapons instructors with the German Air Force Flying Training Center, based at Holloman AFB, N.M. The German airmen who will go on to be instructors for the German Tornado Interdiction Strike aircraft have to show their abilities to handle an integrated fighting scenario, according to Capt. Danny Lee, of the 366th Fighter Wing’s plans and programs office. Several units and aircraft are participating in the exercise, including a B-1 from Ellsworth AFB, S.D., as well as F-15Es and F-16s from Mountain Home.
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.