The word on the ground at AFA’s Air Warfare Symposium in Orlando, Fla., on Thursday is that Gen. Philip Breedlove, US Air Forces in Europe commander, is emerging as a leading candidate to become President Obama’s new nominee to be the next NATO supreme allied commander for Europe and also head US European Command. The President’s need for a new nominee came about on Feb. 19 after Marine Corps Gen. John Allen announced that he would retire from the military and step away from his nomination to take on those leadership posts. Stay tuned for more on this topic.
When Airmen eject, the mission is clear: America leaves no warrior behind. Airmen are trained to survive, evade, resist, and escape the enemy, and everyone from ground crew to rescue personnel and commanders are committed to doing everything necessary—and possible—to bring downed Airmen home.