U.S. Air Force supports defense of Turkey

18th Air Force Public Affairs

1/7/2013 - ALTUS AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- Mobility Airmen are enabling their Army counterparts to meet the Secretary of Defense's order to move two Patriot anti-missile batteries and hundreds of soldiers in support of a key U.S. ally.

Working 24 hours a day, Airmen are meeting NATO's request to deploy the Patriots to Turkey as a defensive measure intended to de-escalate the situation along the Syrian border while demonstrating the alliance's resolve, according to officials.

"This operation is a great example of how Airmen support our allies across the globe every day," said Brig. Gen. Larry Martin, 618th Air and Space Operations Center (Tanker Airlift Control Center) vice commander. "The Air Force has the unique means to provide rapid global mobility in support of an important ally to demonstrate the strength and capability of both the U.S. and the NATO alliance."

The operation is expected to extend into early next week, ultimately resulting in the deployment of 400 U.S. servicemembers and equipment. Supported by KC-10
Extender and KC-135 Stratotanker air refueling aircraft, six C-5 Galaxy airlifters will transport the Patriot batteries and much of the equipment and personnel belonging to the 3d Battalion, 2d Air Defense Artillery Regiment, Ft. Sill, Okla., directly from here to Turkey. Additionally, several C-17 Globemaster III aircraft will depart from here to create an air bridge allowing further deliveries into Turkey, officials said.

According to air mobility leaders, an effort of this speed and scope, in the midst of ongoing support to forces in Afghanistan and throughout Southwest Asia, demands a contribution from a total force team: active, Air National Guard, and Reserve Airmen.
That team includes planners, mobility liaisons, contingency response Airmen, air crews, maintainers and dozens of other support personnel.

"Mobility Airmen are proud to be part of an amazing joint team supporting NATO," said Martin. "We take great pride in making complex global mobility requirements a reality."
Participating units include Airmen and aircraft from Bangor, Maine; Pease, N.H.; Joint Base McGuire-Dix Lakehurst, N.J., Pittsburgh Pa., Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, Westover Air Reserve Base, Mass., and Martinsburg, W.Va.