The elite airmen known as Ravens specially trained to protect the crews and aircraft of Air Mobility Command as they fly to hot spots around the world were the subject of an article by James Scott of The Post and Courier. Scott talked with some of the 34 Ravens based at Charleston AFB, S.C., learning that the elite security forces airmen over the 10 years of the program have yet to fire a weapon against a potential threat. Their preferred response, they say, is the diplomacy they learn along with hand-to-hand combat and varied weapons training. As we’ve reported, they often serve as guards for more than multimillion-dollar aircraft and USAF aircrews.
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.
