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Deputy SECDEF visits Combined Air and Space Operations Center

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Andrea Thacker
  • AFCENT PUBLIC AFFAIRS - Combined Air and Space Operations Center
SOUTHWEST ASIA -- --  Deputy Secretary of Defense Gordon England received a first hand look at air operations in U.S. Central Command's Area of Responsibility during a visit to the Combined Air and Space Operations Center in Southwest Asia, recently.

Mr. England met with Maj. Gen. Douglas L. Raaberg, deputy combined force air component commander, and toured the CAOC, which provides command and control of airpower throughout Iraq, Afghanistan, the Horn of Africa and 24 other nations within U.S. Central Command.

"This was a great way for him to start his visit to the AOR," said General Raaberg. "We provided him a full panoramic view of the fight in both Iraq and Afghanistan, the significant role of airpower in the AOR and how the CAOC links air, ground, sea, and space operations."

Meeting with Airmen, Sailors, Soldiers, Marines, and coalition partners serving here, Mr England received a "Warfighter Brief." This daily briefing presented to the air component commander for approval, matches air and space assets, based on ground commander requirements, available resources, and friendly and enemy capabilities.

"The CAOC is the epicenter for both theaters of operation," said General Raaberg. "We showed him what happened yesterday, today, and the plans for tomorrow."

During the brief, the secretary noted the increase in sorties being flown by the Iraqi Air Force, the Afghan Air Corps, and Coalition Partners; the observed first hand the necessity for new tankers; and acknowledged the importance of air power in the AOR.

"Much of the emphasis is on how this is a ground war; but, we definitely recognize that this is very much an air war, as well," said Mr England. "Airpower is taking out the enemy on the ground and destroying their infrastructures, as well as resupplying our forces...without this capability, we couldn't execute this kind of war."

According to General Raaberg, the CAOC staff provided Mr. England with the leading edge on all new intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities recently added to the theater, including the B-1 Sniper Advanced Targeting Pod, the S-3 Viking, and the addition of the MQ-9 Reaper.

Understanding the sensitivity of ground commanders need for full-motion video, Mr England said, "You're never going to have enough ISR. Ground commanders want to know everything about everybody and their intentions. We understand that this is the way ahead."

Before the deputy secretary of defense left, he thanked Airmen, Soldiers, Sailors, Marines and coalition partners who serve in the CAOC.

Mr. England said that "We wake up free every morning ... because of what you do and because of what your predecessors have done, and I am thankful for your service."