Monday, August 29, 2022

Five Things to Know, Aug. 29, 2022 - American Legion

Five Things to Know, Aug. 29, 2022: U.S guided-missile cruisers enter Taiwan Strait, another American killed fighting alongside Ukraine soldiers.

L3Harris Pursuing Early Materials Acquisition for SDA Tracking Layer Satellites

L3Harris Pursuing Early Materials Acquisition for SDA Tracking Layer Satellites: The fiscal year 2022 defense appropriations law provided $550 million for the Space Development Agency (SDA) to accelerate development of the Tracking

Saturday, August 27, 2022

Demanding Scenario:Air Shielding NATO'S Eastern Flank

On 22 August 2022,NATO'S Allied Air Command (AAC) directed a large-scale,multinational drill over Slovakia.Participating were military personnel from France,Slovakia,the UK and the US.The complex,long-range operation had many of the Allies fly from their home bases,supported by air refueling tankers.Among the aircraft were fourth and fifth generation fighter jets such as the F-22 Raptor,Rafale,MiG-29,and Eurofighter Typhoons,as well as B-52H Stratofortress bombers from Minot Air Force Base,North Dakota.The strategic bombers had flown from RAF Fairford,England on a Bomber Task Force mission. During the exercise,the formation flew against joint German/Netherlands Surface Based Air and Missile Defence Patriot Missile batteries that had been deployed to Slovakia to shield NATO'S Eastern Flank.The essential joint training involved executing precision strikes while enhancing Alliance interoperability and heightening readiness.It was the B-52s' first mission since arriving in England on 18 August.* According to Air Marshal Johnny Stringer,Deputy Commander AAC,the participation of such a diverse and capable array of Allied aircraft demonstrates the Alliance's ability to react to any threat across the Euro-Atlantic area,while also demonstrating the reach,interoperability and agility of the Allied forces as they ensure freedom of access and maintain collective security.The USAF bombers will continue to execute similar missions over the next few months in the European theatre of operations.* The Air Shielding drill prepared NATO forces to operate in a contested and sophisticated threat environment,thus ensuring a capable and credible response to any aggression such as that displayed by Russia in its senseless invasion of Ukraine's sovereign territory.After the Slovakia exercise,the B-52s were escorted by Turkiye F-16 Fighting Falcons through Turkish airspace.As for the fifth generation F-22s,they had arrived in Europe at RAF Lakenheath,England on 26 July en route to Poland's 32nd Tactical Air Base,Lask.The Raptors are out of Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson,Alaska.They are deployed for four-five months in support of the Air Shielding mission,the purpose of which is to safeguard NATO Allies from air and missile attacks by leveraging both air and ground-based assets.Air Shielding provides a near seamless shield from the Baltic to the Black Seas.The F-22s are ideally suited to the mission,being a highly strategic warfighting platform.Over the next year,the Air Force will have various types of aircraft rotating into Europe for approximately four month deployments to supplement its permanent deployments.After a year,the Air Force will reassess and adjust as necessary,said U.S. Air Forces in Europe-Air Force Africa and Allied Air Command's new commander,General James B. Hecker.A U.S. Air Force Academy graduate and veteran of the Afghan War,General Hecker was awarded the Air Force Distinguished Service Medal with one bronze oak leaf cluster;the Defense Superior Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters;the Legion of Merit with two oak leaf clusters;the Afghanistan Campaign Medal with one service star;and the NATO Kosovo Medal,among many others.*

Wednesday, August 24, 2022

CENTCOM forces respond to attempted coordinated rocket attacks at Conoco, Green Village bases

CENTCOM forces respond to attempted coordinated rocket attacks at Conoco, Green Village ba: TAMPA, Fla. – U.S. forces responded today to rocket attacks at two sites in Syria, destroying three vehicles and equipment used to launch some of the rockets. Initial assessments indicate that two or

Saturday, August 20, 2022

Adversaries Put on Notice as Carrier Strike Group 10 Deploys

The George H.W. Bush Carrier Strike Group (CSG 10) deployed from Naval Station Norfolk,Virginia on 10 August 2022.Besides the USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) and its embarked Carrier Air Wing 7 (CAW 7),the CSG includes warships guided-missile cruiser USS Leyte Gulf (CG 55);guided-missile destroyers of Destroyer Squadron 26 (DESRON 26) USS Nitze (DDG 94),USS Delbert D. Black (DDG 119) on its maiden deployment,USS Farragut (DDG 99) and USS Truxton (DDG 103);and typically an unannounced nuclear-powered attack submarine.* Said Rear Admiral Dennis Velez,Commander Carrier Strike Group 10:We bring the full range of U.S. and Allied maritime power in support of national security and defense objectives wherever we sail.Throughout our deployment,we will continue to operate with and reassure our Allies,maintain open sea lanes for trade and increased prosperity,and deter-or if necessary-destroy our adversaries.* Added Captain David-Tavis Pollard,CO of George H.W. Bush:George H.W. Bush Sailors are warriors,leaders,teachers and ambassadors leaning forward,representing their families,hometowns,and the American people wherever we operate.* The Navy explained that CSG 10 is an integrated combat weapons system that delivers superior combat capability to deter,and,if necessary,defeat America's adversaries in support of national security.In total,the CSG is a force of more than 6,000 Sailors,capable of executing a wide range of missions worldwide.The aircraft carrier herself is a flexible,tailorable warfighting capability for the national command authority,which,with the CSG,mainitains maritime stability and security to ensure access,deter aggression,and defend US,Allied and Partner intetrests.* As of 19 August,the CSG remained in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Virginia.It is believed it will set sail for Europe shortly to relieve the Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group currently on deployment in the European theatre of operations.* The sponsor of the USS George H.W. Bush is Dorothy "Doro" Bush,daughter of the late President George H.W. Bush.She recorded a message of support for CSG 10 on the occasion of its deployment.

Saturday, August 13, 2022

US Navy Sailor Lost Overboard During Baltic Operations

The US Navy has announced that Seaman Recruit David L. Spearman,19,was lost overboard from the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missie destroyer USS Arleigh Burke (DDG 51) on 1 August 2022 in the Baltic Sea near Helsinki,Finland.During watch that afternoon,a lookout saw a person in the water.Man overboard procedures were initiated.The ensuing search involved both the German and Swedish Navies,as well as the Arleigh Burke's crew and the US Air Force.The search was called off on 2 August.* Seaman Recruit Spearman was from Etowah,Henderson County in Western North Carolina.He had completed training at Surface Warfare Engineering School Command in Great Lakes,Illinois in April.According to his commanding officer,Commander Pete Flynn,David made an oversized,positive impact on the warship.CDR Flynn also thanked all those involved in the extensive,day and night search and rescue efforts.Spearman,called "Dee" by his family,had a family history of naval service.* The Arleigh Burke is one of four destroyers forward-deployed to Rota,Spain.They are to be joined by two more destroyers as ordered by US President Joeseph R. Biden,bringing the total to six,in light of Russia's unwarranted aggression against Ukraine,which has necessitated an increased NATO presence along the Alliance's Eastern Flank.The augmented destroyer presence,long sought by U.S. European Command,will facilitate better sensing,command and control,and ballistic missile defence capability.* For if we live,we live to the Lord;and if we die,we die to the Lord.Therefore,whether we live or die,we are the Lord's.(Romans 14:8)

Thursday, August 11, 2022

Saturday, August 6, 2022

Response to Russia:Screaming Eagles Back in Europe for First Time Since World War II

The US Army's 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault),the Screaming Eagles,have been deployed to Europe for the first time in nearly eight decades.Hundreds of members of the unit,which participated in the D-Day invasion on 6 June 1944,arrived back in the continent after departing from Campbell Army Airfield,Kentucky on 27 June 2022 on a nine-month deployment to Europe.Their mission?To assure NATO Allies and deter Russian aggression.According to Col.John Lubas,deputy commander for operations 101st Airborne Division: We're going to check the Russian influence and we're going to impact the Russians' decision-making for probably the next 10-20 years.We're going to do this with all our Partners in NATO,the European Union and the West,and this is an incredibly important mission.* Major General J.P. McGee,commanding general 101st Airborne Division and Fort Campbell,said the Division had been in an increased readiness posture for several months and is just as prepared now as in World War II: Since D-Day,June 6,1944,this Division has repeatedly answered the nation's call in every major conflict.The Screaming Eagles of today are ready to support our Allies to preserve the long-lasting stability of the Europe that our predecessors fought and died to secure.* On 30 July 2022,the 101st uncased their colours (flags) in the traditional Army ceremony marking their arrival in Europe at Mihail Kogalniceanu Airbase,Romania.They were welcomed by the Prime Minister of Romania,Nicolae Ciuca.The troops will be deployed to Bulgaria,Hungary,Romania and Slovakia,representing the ironclad commitment of the United States to its Allies.They will be deployed in support of U.S. Army V Corps,reinforce NATO'S Eastern Flank and engage in multi-national exercises with Partners across the European theatre of operations.The unit's Soldiers in Romania are only 198 miles/318.65 kilometers from where the fighting is raging in Kherson,Ukraine,which makes them the most foward-deployed force in the US military.* More recently,the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) had served in Vietnam,Iraq and Afghanistan.Their current deployment to Europe includes elements of the 2nd Brigade Combat Team.*

Tuesday, August 2, 2022

Update:Marine Corps" Lightning Carriers" On Watch as China Surrounds Taiwan

Two US Navy America-class amphibious assault ships,which are testing the small aircraft carrier role,are among the naval forces on watch as China encircles Taiwan with "military operations,"as they put it,in response to the arrival of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi at Songshan Airport in Taipei,Taiwan.Having begun her mission in Singapore,the Speaker had been escorted by US Air Force F-15 Eagle fighters on her flight from Malaysia.The flight took the long route over Southeast Asia,rather than the short cut over the tense South China Sea where China has been engaged in bullying activities.The other maritime forces involved are in the USS Ronald Reagan Carrier Strike Group.So the two Marine Corps aviation carriers,which have embarked F-35B Lightning II Joint Strike Fighters (the Marine Corps variant of the F-35 featuring short takeoff/vertical landing) are to the north of Taiwan,with the USS America (LHA 6) in its homeport of Sasebo,Japan and the USS Tripoli (LHA 7) just off the Okinawa Prefecture coast;while the Ronald Reagan Carrier Strike Group is on watch to the south of Taiwan in the South China Sea.It is impossible to say just how far Beijing will go with these operations.Best case,they will just lob a few missiles into the sea,make some low passes near Taiwan and go home.Yet the Pentagon has prepared for the worst case scenario as well.* Mrs.Pelosi's US Air Force C-40 VIP transport may have taken the long route;but it landed at Songshan as fast as a bat out of hell.She and her Congressional delegation then stayed the night at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Taipei.Speaker Pelosi,a longtime critic of Red China,addressed the Taiwan legislature in the morning and had a meeting scheduled with the Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-Wen,planning to depart in the afternoon and head for Japan and South Korea.Russian and Chinese warships have nearly encircled the main island of Japan in recent days.The flotilla of ten warships was just "ensuring stability in a volatile region,"the two rogue nations stated.* Future iterations of the America-class are to have the well-deck restored so they can truly be amphibious landing ships again.The well decks had been removed from the first two ships of the class,the America and the Tripoli,to make room for more hangar and aviation-related storage space.*

Nancy Pelosi's Flight Lands In Taiwan Amid Warnings By China - Songshan Airport,Taipei,Taiwan - 2244 hours local time - 2 August 2022