B-52s and more than 250 airmen from Barksdale AFB, La., returned home on March 13 after participating in exercises across Europe, including Exercise Cold Response 16 and the French-led Serpentex. “Exercises like Cold Response and Serpentex sustain and strengthen operational and coordination capabilities between allies,” Lt. Col. Dennis Cummings, 20th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron commander, said in a release. “It is through these joint-efforts that we develop a capacity for working together smoothly and efficiently.” About 16,000 troops from 12 NATO nations took part in Cold Response, which was focused on air, ground, and maritime operations in Norway and Mediterranean Sea. As part of Serpentex, B-52s and French fighters conducted close air support training with joint terminal attack controllers from a dozen nations, according to the release.
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.
