On the recordNovember 3, 2011
I rise today to recognize the valor and accomplishments of the 389th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron. The 389th--better known as the T-Bolts--is part of the 366th Fighter Wing based at Mountain Home Air Force Base in Idaho. At Mountain Home, the squadron is composed of 80 airmen from across the United States, including aviators and essential ground personnel. While deployed, the squadron grew to over 400, including maintainers, intelligence personnel, and support staff from the 366th. In May 2011, the T-Bolts deployed to Bagram airbase in Afghanistan, with 18 F-15E Strike Eagles to support Operation Enduring Freedom. In the process, they demonstrated resolve and what can be accomplished through fierce loyalty to each other and to our country. The T-Bolts prosecuted 3,100 combat missions and dropped 800 tons of ordnance. They supported 3,700 ground missions by American and allied forces and responded to 820 ``troops in contact'' emergency combat support calls. In addition, they worked directly with special operations forces to destroy 170 enemy weapons caches and capture 620 detainees, including 90 high-value individuals. The diligence of the maintainers and ground personnel ensured that the 389th met 100 percent of their taskings without missing a single sortie. And the pilots and weapons system officers broke the F-15E deployment record, flying more than 14,000 hours in just over 6 months.…
