Officials at Tyndall AFB, Fla., recently came together to mark the activation of the Florida Air National Guard’s 101st Air and Space Operations Group. These Air Guardsmen help man the 601st Air and Space Operation Center at Tyndall, the state-of-the-art hub that monitors all the air traffic in the continental United States. “The 601st is made up roughly of 550 people, with 350 of those folks being 101st AOG members,” said Col. Randy Spear, 601st AOC commander. He added, “If the 601st were a car, the 101st would be the engine and the drive train that makes the 601st AOC mission happen.” Brig. Gen. Joseph Balskus, Florida ANG commander, presided over the late-August ceremony, which included the changing of the flags representing the 101st AOG’s transition from its former designation as the Southeast Air Defense Sector. (Tyndall report by Capt. Jared Scott)
As the Air Force readied for its June 21-22 strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities, the service was also putting its Agile Combat Employment strategy into action, dispersing combat aircraft and Airmen from Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar in preparation for a possible Iranian retaliatory attack. Some defense experts say…
