Skip to main content (Press Enter).
 News
    
        Photos

    Week in Photos

    Air Force TV

    Commentaries

    Features

    Art

    About Us
    
        Air Force Senior Leaders
    
        SECAF

    CSAF

    CMSAF

    Biographies

    Fact Sheets

    SECAF Reading List

    CSAF Leadership Library
    
        CSAF Leadership Library 2022

    CSAF Leadership Library 2021

    CSAF Reading List Pre-2020 Archive
    
        2018 CSAF Reading List

    2017 CSAF Reading List

    2016 CSAF Reading List

    CSAF Leadership Library 2023

    CMSAF Leadership Library

    50 Years of the CMSAF

    Adjunct Professors

    Air Force Strategic Documents

    Arctic Strategy

    Empowered Airmen

    State Licensure Portability

    Careers

    AF Federal Advisory Committees

    AF 75th Anniversary

    Policy Updates

    AF Content Management

    Contact Us

    AF Sites
    
        Site RegistrationU.S. Air Force LogoAir Force

        Policy UpdatesNewsroomReoptimizationBIOGRAPHIESAF Senior Leaders      A U.S. Air Force A-10C Thunderbolt II, with the 51st Fighter Wing, Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea, takes off from Clark Air Base, Philippines, April 19, 2016. The A-10Cs flew as part of a newly stood up Air Contingent in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region. The air contingent will promote interoperability and provide greater and more transparent air and maritime situational awareness to ensure safety for military and civilian activities in international waters and airspace. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Benjamin W. Stratton)PACAF A-10s, HH-60s fly first air contingent missions in Philippines
                        
                        
                        An A-10C Thunderbolt II with the 51st Fighter Wing at Osan Air Base, South Korea, takes off from Clark Air Base, Philippines, April 19, 2016. The A-10Cs flew as part of a newly stood up air contingent in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region. The air contingent will promote interoperability and provide greater and more transparent air and maritime situational awareness to ensure safety for military and civilian activities in international waters and airspace. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Benjamin W. Stratton)
                
                Photo Details /
                        Download Hi-Res
        


        Four U.S. Air Force A-10C Thunderbolt IIs, with the 51st Fighter Wing, Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea, fly overhead after returning from their first mission out of Clark Air Base, Philippines, April 19, 2016. The A-10Cs are part of the newly stood up Air Contingent here conducting operations ranging from air and maritime domain awareness, personnel recovery, combating piracy, and assurance all nations have access to the regional air and maritime domains in accordance with international law. The A-10 missions enhance the U.S. military assets in the region upholding freedom of navigation and over flight. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Benjamin W. Stratton)PACAF A-10s, HH-60s fly first air contingent missions in Philippines
                        
                        
                        Four A-10C Thunderbolt IIs with the 51st Fighter Wing at Osan Air Base, South Korea, fly overhead after returning from their first mission out of Clark Air Base, Philippines, April 19, 2016. The A-10Cs are part of the newly stood up air contingent at Clark AB conducting operations ranging from air and maritime domain awareness, personnel recovery, combating piracy, and assurance all nations have access to the regional air and maritime domains in accordance with international law. The A-10 missions enhance U.S. military assets in the region upholding freedom of navigation and over flight. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Benjamin W. Stratton)
                
                Photo Details /
                        Download Hi-Res
        


        A U.S. Air Force HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter, with the 33rd Rescue Squadron, Kadena Air Base, Japan, takes off from Clark Air Base, Philippines, April 19, 2016. The HH-60Gs flew in support of a newly stood up U.S. Pacific Command Air Contingent in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region. The Air Contingent will promote interoperability and provide greater and more transparent air and maritime situational awareness to ensure safety for military and civilian activities in international waters and airspace. This first deployment is conducting operations from Clark Air Base and consists of five A-10C Thunderbolt IIs, three HH-60G Pave Hawks and approximately 200 personnel deployed from multiple Pacific Air Forces units. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Benjamin W. Stratton)PACAF A-10s, HH-60s fly first air contingent missions in Philippines
                        
                        
                        A HH-60G Pave Hawk with the 33rd Rescue Squadron at Kadena Air Base, Japan, takes off from Clark Air Base, Philippines, April 19, 2016. The HH-60Gs flew in support of a newly stood up U.S. Pacific Command air contingent in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region. The air contingent will promote interoperability and provide greater and more transparent air and maritime situational awareness to ensure safety for military and civilian activities in international waters and airspace. This first deployment is conducting operations from Clark AB and consists of five A-10C Thunderbolt IIs, three HH-60G Pave Hawks and approximately 200 personnel deployed from multiple Pacific Air Forces units. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Benjamin W. Stratton)
                
                Photo Details /
                        Download Hi-Res

PACAF A-10s, HH-60s fly first air contingent missions in PhilippinesPublished April 22, 2016
                    
                    By Staff Sgt. Benjamin Stratton
                    
                    
                    Pacific Air Forces Public Affairs
            **CLARK AIR BASE, Philippines (AFNS) --**A U.S. Pacific Command air contingent began flying operations at Clark Air Base on April 19 with the successful launch of four A-10C Thunderbolt IIs and two HH-60G Pave Hawks.The aircraft are part of the newly stood up air contingent here conducting operations ranging from air and maritime domain awareness, personnel recovery, combating piracy, and assuring all nations have access to air and sea domains throughout the region in accordance with international law.The A-10s and HH-60s conducted a flying mission through international airspace in the vicinity of Scarborough Shoal west of the Philippines providing air and maritime situational awareness. These missions promote transparency and safety of movement in international waters and airspace, representing the U.S. commitment to ally and partner nations and to the Indo-Asia-Pacific region’s continued stability now and for generations to come.“Our job is to ensure air and sea domains remain open in accordance with international law. That is extremely important, international economics depends on it -- free trade depends on our ability to move goods,” said Col. Larry Card, the air contingent commander. “There’s no nation right now whose economy does not depend on the well-being of the economy of other nations.”The A-10 missions enhance U.S. military assets in the region upholding freedom of navigation and over flight.“We are out here and we’re going to do the best we can to achieve the mission; there is no doubt in my mind we will be successful,” Card said.That success is achieved in part by the close partnership held between the U.S. and Philippine militaries. The two countries’ air and ground forces maintain a close bilateral bond through consistent military exercises“Interoperability with the Philippine military is at the forefront of our mission,” Card said. “The standup of the air contingent promotes this collective focus as we build upon our already strong alliance, and reaffirm our commitment to the Indo-Asia-Pacific region.”Card said it takes more than just aircraft to accomplish this feat, however, as he explained the critical role his Airmen play in this mission’s overall success.“Our Airmen are the top. I’ve worked with the majority of these guys for the last month already and they’ve excelled; they’ve blown me away with their ability to generate airpower and I expect nothing less as we move into this next phase,” Card said.All personnel in this first deployment are Airmen assigned to various Pacific Air Forces bases, and include aircrew, maintainers, logistics and support personnel.“I have a lot of pride in our Airmen; and their ability to quickly understand a mission they’re not accustomed to and within minutes be motivated and execute that mission is truly phenomenal,” the colonel said. “These Airmen truly are the best of the best.”PACOM plans this first iteration of the air contingent mission to last for next several weeks. Future air contingent deployments will be fulfilled with various platforms and personnel from either Air Force or other service components.A-10 



HH-60 



Philippines 



Clark AB 



PACOM 



air contingent

Related Links
        PACAF Airmen stand up air contingent in Philippines Featured News
        Senior Leader Priorities
                DAF leaders talk budget, reoptimizing the force
                    
                    DAF leaders speak at National Character and Leadership Symposium
                    
                    DAF members recognized during BEYA STEM awards
                    
                    DAF senior enlisted advisors discuss Airmen, Guardians in the fight
                    
                    SecAF Kendall AFA Warfare Symposium Q&A: Reoptimizing for Great Power CompetitionInnovation
                AFWERX director discusses role of tech startups, quick innovation in Great Power Competition
                    
                    DAF delivers lethality at the speed of data during Project Convergence Capstone 4
                    
                    DAF welcomes industry partners to HQ development program
                    
                    DAF announces Spark Tank 2024 finalists
                    
                    Chief Digital, Artificial Intelligence Office to host hackathon in HawaiiMAJCOM News
                Air Combat Command welcomes new commander
                    
                    USAFE-AFAFRICA commander discusses Integrated Air, Missile Defense during Munich Security Conference
                    
                    Flosi to AFMC family: Embrace change, make every day count
                    
                    AMC rises to increasing global tension
                    
                    USAFE-AFAFRICA commander emphasizes five focus areas during AFA Warfare Symposium
 Quick Links
AccessibilityContact UsEqual OpportunityFOIA | Privacy | Section 508Information QualityInspector GeneralJAG Court-Martial DocketLink DisclaimerNo FEAR ActOpen GovernmentOSI Tip LinePlain LanguageQuestionsResilienceRSSSite MapVeterans Crisis LineCareers
Join the Air ForceAir Force BenefitsAir Force CareersAir Force ReserveAir National GuardCivilian ServiceConnect
            Get Social with Us
            
            Official United States Air Force Website
    Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil