The US has prepositioned combat search and rescue assets in Turkey, Iraq, and Kuwait to be able to quickly respond to potentially dangerous missions into ISIS-held territory, including keeping pararescuemen airborne for certain missions, the Air Force general in charge of the air war said. “When we are doing missions we think have a higher risk, we posture a bit more,” said Lt. Gen. Charles Brown, commander of US Air Forces Central Command and air component commander of US Central Command. “We do move them around based on what’s going on,” he added. The 41st Rescue Squadron recently returned to Moody AFB, Ga., from Diyarbakir AB, Turkey, near the Syrian border. However, the Air Force has not announced which unit has taken its place.
Three of four congressional committees with influence over defense policy have voted to change the official name of the Department of Defense to the Department of War—but final approval of the Pentagon rebrand is months away and not yet assured.