The 35th Fighter Wing at Misawa AB, Japan, redeployed its 14th Fighter Squadron airmen from Balad AB, Iraq, deploying in their stead airmen of the wing’s 13th FS for the current Air and Space Expeditionary Force rotation. First Lt. Shannon Collins reports that the 14th FS, supported by 35th FW maintainers, flew some 1,400 sorties for 5,800 hours over Iraq for AEF 6 and 7. The two units fly the Block 50 F-16CJ fighters, which normally conduct suppression of enemy air defense operations. In Iraq, though, they flew close air support, using their advanced targeting pods.
The Air Force plans to have its new Integrated Capabilities Command stood up by the end of 2024, Chief of Staff Gen. David W. Allvin said May 2, offering new details of one of the signature reforms announced by the service earlier this year. Allvin said around 500-800 Airmen will…