U.S. Airmen assigned to the 16th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron and 379th Expeditionary Aerial Port Squadron load cargo onto a C-17 Globemaster III aircraft in support of a readiness exercise within the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, Jan. 21, 2026. The exercise spanned across the CENTCOM AOR, elevating readiness with realistic scenarios that tested dispersed operations, rapid deployment of aircraft, and positive control over a large area. (U.S. Air Force video by Tech. Sgt. Kristen Pittman)
Across the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, where operational demands shift rapidly and missions emerge with little warning, the U.S. Air Forceā€™s 1st Expeditionary Theater Support Group serves as a proving ground for novel ways to employ combat support, delivering the foundation that allows joint forces to operate, sustain, and succeed.
