Air Commandos from around the world are joining forces for the 10th Emerald Warrior exercise, which runs through March 10. The exercise is focused on air commando tactics and includes operations from Hurlburt; Eglin AFB, Fla.; Avon Park Air Force Range, Fla.; Camp Shelby, Miss.; Melrose Range, N.M.; and Fort Knox, Ky. Scenarios to be included in this year’s Emerald Warrior include personnel recovery, infiltration and exfiltration, assaults, military freefall, live-fire events, and forward area refueling. Hurlburt has welcomed about 1,500 international and joint partners for the exercise, including service members from Netherlands, Denmark, and France, according to an AFSOC spokesperson.
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.
