On the recent Joint Civilian Orientation Course trip through US Central Command’s area of operations, the civic leaders got briefed on the Air Force’s standard—air strikes, close air support, cargo and troop hauling, and ISR—and not-so-standard—direct ground combat support operations—contributions and got to participate in a training drill with USAF Security Forces airmen.
The U.S. supports “a stronger and more capable” European defense, Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III said during an Oct. 22 press conference in Brussels—but that defense should not duplicate the functions and capabilities of the NATO alliance.