Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Michael Moseley, fresh off a trip to Southwest Asia, told attendees Thursday afternoon at AFA’s Orlando symposium that he met a host of airmen that have deployed upwards of five times. When he talked to airmen at various locations and asked who had done five, six, and even seven tours “hands were still going up,” Moseley said. He also noted that USAF has more forces committed to combatant commanders on any given day.
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.