Trident Juncture Ends

NATO’s largest military exercise since 2002 wrapped up Nov. 6, after three weeks of live training in three countries, according to an Alliance release. More than 140 aircraft participated in Trident Juncture 2015, including six F-16s from the 52nd Fighter Wing at Spangdahlem AB, Germany; two KC-135s from the 100th Air Refueling Wing at RAF Mildenhall, UK; two C-130s from the Rhode Island Air National Guard’s 143rd Air Wing; three HH-60 Pavehawks and one HC-130 Hercules from the 347th Rescue Group at Moody AFB, Ga.; nine C-17s from Air Mobility Command, and two B-52s from the 2nd Bomb Wing, Barksdale AFB, La. About 350 US airmen were among the 36,000 people involved. The exercise, which took place mainly in Spain, Italy, and Portugal, certified Joint Force Command Brunssum to lead the NATO Response Force, if activated, throughout 2016. “Exercises like this show that NATO stands strong. … While our aim is to train and exercise, we are also sending a clear message, to our nations and to any potential adversary,” NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said. “NATO does not seek confrontation, but we stand ready to defend all allies.”