4,000 Blue Devils

The 361st Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron Blue Devil team pose in front of their aircraft after completing their 4,000th sortie at Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan. The Blue Devils are contractors providing a one-stop shop for an integrated intelligence capability to Coalition forces. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Scott Saldukas)

Blue Devils fly 4,000th sortie

Published July 7, 2013
By Capt. Brian Maguire
451st Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs

KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, Afghanistan -- **Editor's note: Last names of intelligence, reconnaissance and surveillance operators are withheld for security reasons**

A program scheduled only to last nine months recently reached a milestone when the 361st Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron Blue Devils flew their 4,000th sortie.

Nearly two-and-a-half years after its activation, the 361st ERS Blue Devils reached the milestone while providing intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance to forces in Afghanistan.

"It is like any other milestone - we're glad to have reached this point," said Mike, 361st ERS acting site lead.

The Blue Devils are contractor-owned and contractor-operated and provide a one-stop shop for integrated intelligence capability.

"When we were first established, this milestone was never even supposed to be reached," Mike said. "Since most people here have been involved since the beginning, it is fulfilling to reach this milestone."

Nearly 90 people in a wide range of specialties come together to accomplish the same ISR goal. Even with a rotation of people back to the U.S., there is a real sense of teamwork among the Blue Devil program.

"Everyone is excited about this milestone, because we're such a team focused on providing operators necessary intelligence," Mike said. "It's even more exciting knowing that we're an ISR platform the customer depends on."