Twelve A-10s and about 300 airmen returned home to Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., this past week, marking the end of the first theater security package mission deployed to US Air Forces in Europe-Air Forces Africa. The TSP mission, in support of Ope?ration Atlantic Resolve, saw the A-10s fly and train with NATO allies across the continent in order to strengthen interoperability, build readiness, and demonstrate commitment to keeping the region secure. The 354th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron deployed to the 52nd Fighter Wing at Spangdahlem AB, Germany, in February. The 354th EFS went on to participate in 21 exercises in 22 countries during the deployment, in nations such as Romania, Slovakia, and Poland, logging nearly 2,700 flight hours in more than 1,500 sorties. The deployment of the A-10s was the first of several planned TSP deployments to Europe; rotations are expected to last about six months, and will include several different types of aircraft.
Afghanistan Withdrawal Continues as Taliban Makes Gains
June 22, 2021
The U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan continues on pace, and though Taliban violence has increased—with the group taking more districts from the Kabul-based government—there are no plans to slow the drawdown yet. U.S. Central Command said June 22 that more than 50 percent of the withdrawal had been completed as of…