Operation Enduring Freedom

摘要

By March 15, a total of 1,900 Americans had died in Operation Enduring Freedom.The total includes 1,897 troops and three Department of Defense civilians. Of these deaths, 1,500 were killed in action with the enemy while 400 died in noncombat incidents. There have been 15,460 troops wounded in action during OEF. The Air Force recently reshuffled close air support assets in Afghanistan to meet the anticipated demands of ground forces in the coming months. Air Force Reserve Command A-10s of the 303rd Expeditionary Fighter Squadron operating in southern Afghanistan out of Kandahar traded bases with Air National Guard F-16s of the 451st Expeditionary Fighter Squadron at Bagram Airfield in the north. "This movement postures close air support to best support the campaign plans in the long and short term," said Col. Kevin Blanchard, vice commander of the 451st Air Expeditionary Wing at Kandahar Airfield. "The reset should provide the regional commanders the best air assets for the environment and operations each commander will encounter," added Blanchard. In addition to aircraft, the two units moved a combined 900 personnel and 438 units of cargo without missing a single combat sortie request.