Michigan Air National Guard A-10s returned last week to Selfridge ANGB, Mich., from deployment to an undisclosed base in the Persian Gulf. The jets tallied some 1,600 sorties and 11,000 combat flying hours supporting the fight against ISIS over Iraq since April, according to a wing release. A total of 10 jets and 350 pilots, maintainers, and support personnel from the 127th Wing were supported by Michigan ANG KC-135s, deployed on shorter, two-month rotations, officials stated. Michigan jets relieved Indiana ANG A-10s of the 122nd Fighter Wing, which made the type’s first OIR deployment last November. A-10s from the 23rd Wing at Moody AFB, Ga., took over responsibility for supporting OIR from a new operating location at Incirlik AB, Turkey. With the move to Incirlik, A-10 strikes have now expanded to Syria as well as Iraq. Deployed 127th WG personnel returned to Selfridge Oct. 22-24.
Adm. Christopher Grady, vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs and head of the Joint Requirements Oversight Council, is pushing a “portfolio” approach to requirements and wants his position to have “more teeth” so he can enforce it.