General Lawrence A. Skantze

The image of our Armed Forces is usually conveyed to the average American through the media, sometimes through print media but more than likely through television, particularly since print media are cutting back. In the time we have been at war in Iraq and Afghanistan, seven years since 2002, television images have exclusively focused on the ground war with pictures of damage and destruction on the streets and in the retail stores and restaurants within the cities, including tragic pictures of indiscriminate deaths attributed to be ubiquitous IEDs and suicide bombers. There are pictures of Army and Marine units, carefully patrolling streets and alley ways, trying to secure safe areas for the populace The Army and Marines clearly bear the burden of this war and are constantly exposed to the IEDs and suicide bombers, often with tragic results.

It is unfortunate, however, that the average American is unaware of the heavy role that the Air Force plays and continues to play in direct support of the ground war. Recently, the New York Times published an opinion by a Marine Corps Reserve public affairs specialist, Paul Kane, on 21 April in which he suggested to Secretary Gates that “the Air Force should be eliminated” because it is not “at war” like the other services. Responding in and April 23 letter to the Editor, Air Force Chief of Staff, Gen. Norton Schwartz said “Mr. Kane’s conclusion dismisses more than 71 percent of the 330,000 active duty airman, along with their National Guard and Air Force Reserve Teammates that have deployed since 2001. These warriors directly execute and support combat operation in Iraq and Afghanistan.”

Last year, the Air Force flew an average of 265 sorties per day over Iraq and Afghanistan, conducting about 98,000 sorties out of a coalition total of 119,500 sorties, or 82 percent of the total. These sorties include Close Air Support, Armed Reconnaissance and ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance) sorties, as well as almost all of the Airlift and Air Refueling sorties. As of June 6, 2009, the Air Force flew about 50,100 combined sorties already so far this year. There are over 27,000 airmen deployed in war fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan, supporting and maintaining Air Force aircraft and equipment across 60 locations in the Middle East. There are also about 4,200 airmen who are deployed directly with combat ground forces filling traditional ground-force roles. The Air Force has lost 47 airmen in combat and 514 airmen have been wounded.

The Air Force is not only in the fight, but actually carrying a significant burden of the joint effort. I urge reporters to take note of the significance of airpower, and talk to some of our airmen serving over there. A few of their stories can be found at Portraits in Courage. I know the men and women serving with boots on the ground understand clearly what the Air Force does for them. An immeasurable number of their lives have been saved by the ability to call in an air strike instead of a frontal assault on an insurgent position. Let’s not forget what our men and women of the Armed Forces, in every service, are doing for us.