Political Quotes

“Mr. President, the ``World Famous Highly Respected'' 555th Fighter Squadron, commonly known as the Triple Nickel, recently completed the Department of Defense's first real-world combat Dynamic Force Employment DFE to United States Central Command. In plain English, the Triple Nickel executed an unplanned departure to the Middle East last fall to combat Iranian aggression against the United States and our allies in the region. During its historic deployment, the squadron flew more than 7,000 hours supporting operations in the Arabian Gulf, Afghanistan, Iraq, and Syria. Demonstrating the rapid, agile, and lethal characteristics of airpower, the Nickel executed defensive counter-air missions in Syria-- routinely intercepting and monitoring Russian, Syrian, and Iranian aircraft operating near U.S. and partnered ground forces. It also provided close air support to troops battling the Taliban in Afghanistan, as well as ISIS in Iraq and Syria. The Nickel returned home in December as Iran's aggression began to wane but deployed a second time only days later when tensions rapidly escalated following the U.S. strike against Qasem Soleimani. The squadron subsequently executed force protection missions in Iraq during and after Iran's missile attacks against U.S. forces. The Triple Nickel then deployed to a second expeditionary operating location. U.S. F-16s had not conducted combat missions from this location since 2003.…”