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380AEW Article

One team, one fight!

  • Published
  • By Capt. Cathleen Snow
  • 380th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
SOUTHWEST ASIA --  "The mission is and 18-year-old with a rifle. All else is support."

This is a sentiment expressed throughout the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing which was further emphasized as the theme for the outgoing wing commander's change-of-command speech. Brig. Gen. Bryan Benson who commanded the wing for a year before handing over the 380th flag to Col. Mike Minahan June 14, 2010 at an undisclosed location in Southwest Asia.

During General Benson's going away speech he referred to the "18-year-old with a rifle" as the wing's bottom line. The reason for multiple day-to-day aircraft missions over Afghanistan and Iraq.

Colonel Minehan will now take the reigns and lead 1,900 personnel supporting one of the most diverse combat wings in the Air Force. Its mission, to provide high-altitude all-weather intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, airborne command and control and air refueling for Operations Iraqi Freedom, Enduring Freedom and Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa.

To accomplish this mission the wing is equipped with four diverse weapons systems which are shown as silhouettes on the illustration here used as the cover of the change-of-command program. 

From top to bottom, the aircraft portrayed are: The RQ-4 Global Hawk, E-3 Sentry (AWACS), U-2 Dragon Lady and the KC-10 Extender.

They are a unique combination of aircraft which act as the "eyes and ears" serving as guardians of the sky for troops on the ground. They also provide greater range and endurance for coalition aircraft over the battlefield which ultimately also support the ground troops.