Lt. Col. David Dressel on Nov. 21 flew past the 3,000-flying hour mark during a close air support mission over Afghanistan. He expects to reach 500 combat flying hours during his current deployment to Bagram AB, Afghanistan, from the 75th Fighter Squadron at Moody AFB, Ga. Dressel flew his first combat missions during Operation Desert Storm and continued in Operation Southern Watch and in current operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. The 18-year Air Force veteran says: Back home you rate your success on how well you performed. Here, you rate your success on how well the ground guys do. Our success comes down to whether or not the ground commander was able to accomplish his mission.” (Bagram report by SSgt. Rachel Martinez)
The six-week government shutdown did not affect the hours flown by Air Force pilots, a service spokesperson told Air & Space Forces Magazine—avoiding what could have been a major blow at a time when flying hours are already lower than they have been in decades.
