On the recent Joint Civilian Orientation Course trip through US Central Command’s area of operations, the civic leaders got briefed on the Air Force’s standard—air strikes, close air support, cargo and troop hauling, and ISR—and not-so-standard—direct ground combat support operations—contributions and got to participate in a training drill with USAF Security Forces airmen.
The Air Force conducted its first test of a Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile in 2026 on March 3, launching an unarmed missile from Vandenberg Space Force Base, Calif., equipped with two test reentry vehicles at 11:01 p.m. Pacific Time.