Special to WorldTribune.com

ABU DHABI — The U.S. military has begun using Kuwait for air defense
operations in the Gulf.

The U.S. Air Force has re-assigned key units based in Iraq for air
defense missions in the Gulf. The missions have been based in Kuwait and
included the Air Force’s 727th Expeditionary Air Control Squadron, which
previously operated in Iraq.

“We know it’s important to have our eyes out there to support this
entire region,” Staff Sgt. Sarah Hanby, weapons director of the squadron, said.

The 727th changed missions on Dec. 30 with the end of U.S.
military deployment in Iraq. The squadron has been providing radar surveillance of the Gulf in what allowed the Air Force to coordinate aircraft movement.

“We keep people safe,” Ms. Hanby said. “We give them a sense of security by watching from overhead.”

Officials said Kuwait has been enhanced as a base for the U.S. military. They said the Gulf Cooperation Council sheikdom, with up to 27,000 American soldiers, contains U.S. units responsible for logistics, air operations and rapid-response.

The 727th has been working with other U.S. military units to ensure air defense. Officials cited the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing as well as the
Army’s 108th Air Defense Artillery Brigade, responsible for the PAC-3 air
and missile defense network in the Gulf. The U.S. Army maintains PAC-3 in
such countries as Bahrain, Kuwait and Qatar.

“They are outstanding teammates and they’ve set us up for success,”
727th squadron commander Lt. Col. Justin Hickman said.

Officials said the U.S. military was coordinating with Kuwait and other
GCC states. They said the military was providing
surveillance as well as tactical command and control to ensure that the Gulf
was not threatened by enemy aircraft or missiles.

“We’re here to execute the air tasking order and to make sure our assets
and our host nation partners are safe,” Capt. Lynn Senior, a 727th EACS air
surveillance officer, said.

  380th Air Expeditionary Wing, Air Force 727th Expeditionary Air Control Squadron, Capt. Lynn Senior, Gulf Cooperation Council, Kuwait replaces Iraq as air command post for U.S. operations in, Lt. Col. Justin Hickman, PAC-3 air and missile defense network, Staff Sgt. Sarah Hanby