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.
A half-dozen pilots from one of the Air Force’s premier F-16 units, the 20th Fighter Wing at Shaw Air Force Base, S.C., have been awarded one of the service’s highest decorations for their role in Operation Midnight Hammer, the June 2025 strikes against Iranian nuclear facilities.