Political Quotes

“Mr. President, the U.S. Air Force's 389th Fighter Squadron--known, respected, and feared around the globe as the Thunderbolts--flew downrange from the 366th Fighter Wing at Mountain Home Air Force Base in Idaho to support Operations Inherent Resolve and Spartan Shield from October 2019 until June 2020. Led by Lt. Col. Rod ``Brick'' James, the squadron of F-15E Strike Eagles deployed to the United States Central Command area of responsibility for the fight against the Islamic State. During its historic combat deployment, the T-Bolts employed 263 munitions of myriad types during over 2,600 sorties and a record 13,000 combat hours throughout CENTCOM. Demonstrating the rapid, agile, and lethal characteristics of airpower, the 389th executed close air support for troops in Syria and Iraq. In addition to CAS, the Squadron Weapons section loaded the first Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile, AGM-158, expended in combat by the 366th Fighter Wing, for just one of a host of special missions. All the while a deterrent, the T-Bolts stood ready to defeat Iranian aggression if the call came. Finally, they stayed in the fight 50 percent longer than planned to ensure COVID-19 did not cause any loss of support to those who needed Strike Eagles overhead. Throughout their deployment, the men and women of the 389th Fighter Squadron and Aircraft Maintenance Unit performed exceptionally under intense combat pressures executing a new, highly mobile deployment construct during a pandemic.…”