380th takes full circle journey to war

Photo By Jeremy Larlee | Brig. Gen. Mike Minahan, 380th Air Expeditionary Wing commander, leads retreat at a non-disclosed base in Southwest Asia.  

(UNDISCLOSED LOCATION)

08.31.2010

Story by Tech. Sgt. Jeremy Larlee 

380th Air Expeditionary Wing

SOUTHWEST ASIA -- The deafening roar of the U.S. Patriot Missiles leaving their launchers left a ringing in his ears and drove home to the young captain that he was indeed at war.

Huddled in a bunker with his fellow KC-135 aircrew, the usual joking and bantering was replaced with silence. The crew was fatigued following a refueling mission and was assisting the maintainers in refueling the KC-135 Stratotanker to get it back into the air when the alarm red came in from the command post, sending them to cover. There had been alarm reds in the previous nights, but nothing had materialized until now.

This night in January 1991 was different though. Roughly a week into the Desert Storm air campaign, Iraq switched its focus and aimed the much-feared Scud missiles toward the captain’s location in Saudi Arabia.

The Patriot Missiles did their job and took out the Scud missiles. The fireworks display rained flaming shards of Scud and Patriot missile across the ramp and flight line like twisted metal confetti.

The events of that night left an indelible impression on the captain. He had arrived in theater in October 1990 and had just pinned on captain in May of that same year. It was his first taste of an expeditionary environment, but it would not be his last.

Over the next 20 years he traded in the captain bars for a general’s star and instead of flying for the 380th Air Refueling Wing, Brig. Gen. Mike Minahan has traveled full circle and now commands the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing.

The 380th has undergone changes as well. It is no longer located at Plattsburgh Air Force Base, N.Y, which closed down in 1995, but is now crucial to the war effort at this undisclosed location in Southwest Asia.

The wing has a diverse mission and is comprised of five groups and 18 squadrons, responsible for air refueling, surveillance and reconnaissance, air battle management, and airlift support for overseas contingency operations in the Area of Responsibility.

With the 20th Anniversary of Desert Shield this month, it’s time to reflect and see how much the Air Force has changed in just two decades.

Multiple deployments to combat zones are common now, and troops, families and friends are fully familiar with the expeditionary cycle.

This higher operations tempo is also being executed with less, as the Air Force has drawn down to close to half of the personnel from 1990.

“Our Air Force is much smaller and leaner, but we are also much more lethal, said Minahan. “It is a testament to how professional and technically competent our Airmen are. Back then we were undeniably the most powerful Air Force in the world and today it is even more true.”

The scope of what the 380th AEW does now is different than in Desert Shield, but by no means is it less important.

The wing conducts combat operations instructed by the president in direct support of Operations Iraqi Freedom, Enduring Freedom and Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa. To accomplish its mission the wing is equipped with four diverse weapons systems: The U-2 Dragon Lady, E-3 Sentry (AWACS), RQ-4 Global Hawk and KC-10 Extender. They are a unique combination of aircraft which act as the "eyes and ears," serve as guardians of the sky and provide greater range and endurance for coalition aircraft over the battlefield.

Asked if he could reach back through time to give that captain in the bunker some advice, the Clifton Park, N.Y., native said he would keep it simple.

“I would give myself the same advice that has been reinforced throughout my career,” he said. “Always work hard and always do your best. Go that extra mile and set your sights on bigger and better things. Be the best at whatever job you have.”

• Date Taken: 08.31.2010
• Date Posted: 09.01.2010 00:56
• Story ID: 55496
• Location: (UNDISCLOSED LOCATION)