Undisclosed Location, SOUTHWEST ASIA -- The U.S. Air Forces Central Command Commander, Lt. Gen. Charles Brown Jr. made a brief visit here to see U.S. and coalition forces, Feb. 11, 2016.
Brown oversees contingency plans and air operations for the AFCENT area of responsibility covering Central and Southwest Asia.
As part of AFCENT, the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing’s nearly 4,000 Airmen, Soldiers and coalition personnel conduct combat operations in support of contingency operations to protect national interests in U.S. Central Command's 27-country Southwest Asia area of responsibility.
Brown’s visited to the wing was to meet with the personnel and see first-hand some of their operations.
One of the first locations of his visit was the Oasis Dining Facility where he ate and spoke with Airmen, Soldiers and coalition members.
He congratulated the 380th on their operations leading up to the destruction of an Islamic State of the Levant banking facility during an airstrike almost a month ago. The bombing of the facility destroyed “millions” in ISIL funding, according to a CNN report.
“We struck one of their banks and it was impressive - you should see the video, I understand it’s on YouTube these days,” said Brown. “18 months ago ISIL was seen in big convoys with flags and celebrating. You don’t see that anymore, and the reason why because of air power. Air power is everything we do; it’s not just the folks in the cockpit dropping bombs. It’s all the things that happen to get us to that point, from the folks that keep us safe to those that keep us fed and bed us down.”
He also answered inquiries from personnel during a question and answer session following lunch. Questions ranged from, “How do you close the gap between active duty and guard hands-on training?” to “Which aircraft does you believe brings more airpower between bombers and fighters?”
“I am truly proud and excited about the work we’re doing here,” he said. “I wish you the best of luck to those that are getting ready to leave and for those that just arrived or half way through – remember it’s a marathon, not a sprint. Thanks a lot.”