“At Souda Bay, we really sit on the overlap of the U.S. European, U.S. Africa and U.S. Central Instructions’ areas of accountability,” stated Lt. Jared Goulette, operations officer, NSA Souda Bay. “We’re in a position to capitalize on our strategic location by offering the Joint drive with the operational assist they should undertaking the complete may of the U.S. army throughout these crucial geographic areas.”
Throughout the 763rd Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron’s ahead deployment to Greece, NSA Souda Bay supported the unit by offering jet gas and air operations assist to the RC-135 Rivet Joint and crew. NSA Souda Bay additionally supplied the lodging for the crew of greater than 60 personnel.
In a dynamic show of agility and fight effectiveness, the U.S. Air Drive Boeing RC-135 Rivet Joint assigned to the 763rd Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar, lately showcased its indispensable function throughout Operation Agile Spartan, Aug. 18-23, 2023.
Generally known as the RJ, the RC-135 Rivet Joint deployed from Offutt Air Drive Base, Neb., is a high-altitude, reconnaissance plane. The RJ ahead deployed to Naval Assist Exercise Souda Bay, Greece, to train their skill to generate fight missions in numerous places out and in of U.S. Central Command’s space of accountability. This functionality to function with coalition companions maintains interoperability, strengthening U.S. drive posture.
“As regional and world adversaries turn out to be extra unpredictable, the flexibility to quickly and adaptably deploy to atypical or dispersed places, turns into important to regional stability,” stated U.S. Air Drive Maj. Jonathan Ruiz, 763rd Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron detachment commander.
Throughout the train, the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing supplied in-flight refueling from the KC-135 for the RJ, and transport for mission important personnel along with assist for accomplice air platforms. The 912th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron operated from an austere location proving their skill to keep up a resilient and versatile logistics community able to supporting agile fight employment operations. This allowed our accomplice nation and U.S aircrews’ freedom of motion and sustained airpower for longer durations of time, extending their attain within the Center East.
The joint effort not solely highlighted the 379th AEW’s dedication of sustaining readiness and deterrence towards adversaries within the USCENTCOM’s AOR, but additionally wing’s skill to quickly generate fight airpower and interact in ACE eventualities.
The RJ supplies nationwide leaders and regional companions with a novel functionality, offering real-time intelligence, surveillance, and dissemination to mission and coalition companions, augmenting regional and worldwide safety.
Between the flight deck crew, digital warfare officers, intelligence operators and in-flight upkeep technicians, the group was in a position to collect crucial info, course of knowledge, and transmit actionable intelligence to decision-makers on the bottom and within the air.
“This plane is the one one on the planet that may do what we do,” stated Senior Airman Gregory Allen, 763rd Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron airborne cryptologic language analyst. “We get to work carefully with determination makers, and attending to see the influence of our mission is rewarding.”
Aircrews collect the info in actual time to supply imminent menace warnings, defending belongings across the AOR.
“Our group works tirelessly to organize for the subsequent battle and to make sure theater and world safety,” Ruiz stated. “I am proud to serve with these Airmen and pleased with what we convey to the combat daily.”
The RJ has been lively in all different theaters around the globe, however has constantly carried out 13,460 continuous fight missions and accomplished over 145,000 flying hours all through the Center East for 33 years in assist of operations DESERT STORM, DESERT SHIELD, NORTHERN WATCH, SOUTHERN WATCH, ENDURING FREEDOM, IRAQI FREEDOM, and now INHERENT RESOLVE and SPARTAN SHIELD.
Operation Agile Spartan acted as a proving floor, testing the RJ’s versatile capabilities and integration into ACE eventualities, solidifying its popularity as a robust strategic asset within the Center East and throughout the globe.
