Aerial view of troop surge

Much has been said, written and reported on the many successes of the “surge” of forces in Iraq initiated in 2007. The additional ground forces have made a significant difference, and as reported, the surge forces have been and are returning stateside from the conflict in Iraq. We are now hearing of the potential of an even greater drawdown of ground forces later this year and into 2009. All of this is great news!

What hasn’t been reported on is something akin to a “top-down look” at the surge. Maybe we should call it an aerial view – and even more specifically, an Air Force view. While clearly there was a dramatic increase in ground forces and the concomitant ground successes, there has also been a significant surge in aerial activity.

In fact, there has been an incredible surge in air power activity. For example, the number of aerial sorties (flights) is up by 85 percent. Air strikes are up over 400 percent, with an increase in ordnance tonnage of 1,000 percent. These are not insignificant figures. I have read a report from a usually reliable and credible source that nine out of 10 insurgents being killed are being killed by air power.

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have been a vital contribution to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. They are invaluable for reconnaissance and surveillance as well as in kinetic strikes. Today, about 88 percent of the Air Force’s UAVs are deployed to the combat theater and are providing 24/7 combat air patrols.

In the first six months of this year, the Air Force has flown roughly 54,000 missions over Iraq and Afghanistan. Nearly 5,800 of these were intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance sorties. Almost 17,000 were close air support and armed reconnaissance. Another 8,000 sorties were from aerial refuelers providing the staying power and range for the other aerial assets. And, oh yes, there were about 23,000 airlift sorties transporting people and things to, within and from these two war zones.

Incredible. Some 54,000 air power sorties, and we don’t hear about them. And by the way, the Air Force has flown over 50,000 sorties over our homeland since 9/11. These seldom seen or discussed fighters from the active duty Air Force, Air National Guard and Air Force Reserves are quietly and professionally keeping watch over our major cities and national treasures.

Also seldom heard of or discussed in the media are the some 3,500 Air Force men and women who are performing ILO, or “in lieu of,” missions. This means that they are basically doing the work of soldiers and Marines like driving convoy trucks. Another example is the Air Force Security Forces doing the work of Army military police. These ILO missions are taking some of the burden off our heavily committed Army forces in Iraq. However, it comes at a significant cost to a marginally manned Air Force.

Here in our area, the men and women from Seymour Johnson and Pope Air Force Bases are an important part of our nation’s air power. The F-15E Strike Eagles and the C-130 Hercules flown and supported by our neighbors at Seymour Johnson and Pope have contributed greatly to our ongoing wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.