DYESS AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- DYESS AIR FORCE BASE, Texas — The 7th Bomb Wing, 307th Bomb Wing and 53rd Wing jointly executed a 30-hour two-ship mission on Jan. 11 from Dyess Air Force Base, Texas to the Indo-Pacific and back. The two aircraft conducted a joint Large Force Exercise with fighters from the Japanese Air Self Defense Force, in a clear message showing U.S. commitment to allies and partners within the Indo-Pacific Region.
“Executing CONUS-to-CONUS missions allows us to practice interoperability training with our allies and partners,” said Col. Kevin Kippie, 7th BW vice commander. “Additionally, we showcased the strength of Team Dyess in that our two ship was comprised of Airmen from the 9 BS, 345 BS, and 337 TES. This is a testament to our total force strength.”
Capt. Carlie Gantar, a 9th Bomb Squadron weapons system officer, had the opportunity to gain valuable experience integrating with JASDF.
“Any chance that we get to work with the JASDF is an amazing opportunity,” Gantar said. “The experience the crew members receive, in every aircraft, and the training accomplished speaks to how well we can work together as a team, whether it’s a training sortie or the real deal.”
These missions demonstrate the U.S. Air Force’s flexible deterrence capability and global reach.
“A CONUS to CONUS mission is proof in the pudding that we can take off from home and make it anywhere around the world to deliver support whenever we’re called upon,” Gantar said
The 337th Test and Evaluation Squadron generated one of the two aircraft and the 7th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron generated the other. This teamwork made this mission a success.
“The 7th Bomb Wing’s ability to provide decisive airpower at the time and place of our choosing to support Geographic Combatant Commander’s priorities is what makes us America’s premier Lift and Strike Base,” Kippie said. “Our maintainers and aircrew are willing, competent, and capable of executing missions crucial to our regional ties with allies and partners and will continue to do so now and in the future.”