About 200 airmen and 10 A-10C Thunderbolt IIs from Air Force Reserve Command’s 924th Fighter Group at Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz., deployed to Florida this weekend to practice providing close air support during combat search and rescue operations. The training with the 301st Helicopter Squadron, which flies HH-60G Pave Hawks, at Patrick AFB, Fla., will last through the end of the month, according to a 944th Fighter Wing release. The 47th Fighter Squadron trains with an HH-60 unit at Davis-Monthan, but it’s the unit’s first time to Patrick. Col. Thomas McNurlin, chief of the 924th FG, said the new unit’s deployment to a “location in a new setting will force them out of their comfort zone and encourage them to overcome the challenges by working together,” according to the release.
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.
