Airmen and aircraft from the 354th Fighter Wing at Eielson AFB, Alaska, are bound for Afghanistan as part of USAF’s latest air and space expeditionary force. The base has deployed some 400 airmen from the 355th Fighter Squadron and 354th Maintenance Group. The maintainers worked in 12-hours shifts to get their A-10 Warthogs ready for the pilots who would fly them on the 11,000-mile trip.
Air Force Gen. Alexus G. Grynkewich assumed command of U.S. European Command on July 1, taking over the key assignment as the U.S. and its allies contend with a resurgent Russia and a grinding war in Ukraine.