ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. – The sun set today on the E-8C Joint STARTS mission at Robins AFB in a private ceremony made up of past and present members of the JSTARS mission.
More than 800 alumni of the 116th Air Control Wing, 461st Air Control Wing, and the former 93rd Air Control Wing were joined by local elected officials and civic leaders to celebrate the 21 years of excellence that Team JSTARS operated the E-8C aircraft.
“JSTARS has been an important part of this community and the lives of all of those in attendance for more than two decades; everyone here has a story and JSTARS has been a huge part of our story for a very long time,” said Col. Christopher Dunlap, commander of the 116th ACW. “It is bittersweet saying goodbye to the JSTARS mission. However, because of the
professionalism and commitment of our Airmen, we have been given cutting edge new missions that will keep our organization at the forefront for decades to come.”
Team JSTARS has been deployed every day for the past 21 years, flying more than 14,259 operational sorties equaling 141,169 flying hours in support of every combatant command around the world.
“The role the E-8C JSTARS has played for the joint community, our service, and the local community has left a lasting imprint of what success looks like,” said Col. Adam Shelton, commander of the 461st ACW. “Over a 21-year span Team JSTARS has been airborne in combat flights the equivalent of 16 years. The dedication of past and present members of this
joint, local community, and industry team have set the foundation as the Robins AFB transformation continues to forge ahead.”
The last of 17 aircraft will depart Robins AFB to Kelly Field, Texas, where it will serve as a training aircraft for future Airmen.
Airmen from the 116 ACW and 461 ACW have already begun and will continue to work towards standing up four new missions at Robins Air Force Base.
Date Taken: | 11.04.2023 |
Date Posted: | 11.07.2023 10:13 |
Story ID: | 457205 |
Location: | ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, GEORGIA, US |
Web Views: | 612 |
Downloads: | 1 |
This work, Team JSTARS hosts historic Joint STARS Sunset Celebration, by Capt. Ronald Cole, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.