United States Air Force Installations and Services
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USAFE
US Air Forces in Europe, with headquarters at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, is a major command of the U.S. Air Force. It is also the air component of the U.S. European Command, a Department of Defense unified command.
THE MISSION
As the air component for U.S. EUCOM, USAFE directs air operations in a theater spanning three continents, covering more than 8 million square miles, containing 51 independent states, and possessing one-eighth of the world's population and about one-fourth of the world's Gross Domestic Product.
During the Cold War, USAFE was a fight-in-place force postured for a large-scale conflict. Since the fall of the Berlin Wall, it has transitioned to an Air Expeditionary Force with a mobile and deployable mix of people and resources that can simultaneously operate in multiple locations. Its role in Europe and Africa has included warfighting as well as humanitarian and peacekeeping operations, and other non-traditional contingencies throughout its area of responsibility.
In peacetime, USAFE trains and equips U.S. Air Force units pledged to NATO. In fulfilling its NATO responsibilities, USAFE maintains combat-ready wings based from Great Britain to Turkey. USAFE plans, conducts, controls, coordinates and supports air and space operations in Europe, parts of Asia and Africa to achieve U.S. national and NATO objectives based on taskings by the U.S. EUCOM commander.
In support of national and NATO requirements, USAFE assets stand ready to perform close air support, air interdiction, air defense, in-flight refueling, long-range transport and support of maritime operations. USAFE remains a formidable force despite a rapid drawdown that saw its main operating bases cut by 67 percent following the end of the Cold War. As witnessed in the command's support of contingency and humanitarian operations throughout Europe and parts of Africa, USAFE remains a highly responsive and capable combat force.
PERSONNEL AND RESOURCES
More than 39,000 active-duty, Reserve and civilian employees are assigned to USAFE. Equipment assets include about 220 fighter, attack, tanker and transport aircraft, and a full complement of conventional weapons.
ORGANIZATION
USAFE consists of seven main operating bases along with 70 geographically separated locations. The main operating bases are: RAF Lakenheath and Mildenhall in England; Ramstein and Spangdahlem Air Bases in Germany, Aviano Air Base in Italy, Lajes Air Base in the Azores, and Incirlik Air Base in Turkey. These bases report to Third Air Force (Air Forces Europe) located at Ramstein AB, for day-to-day and contingency operations. Third Air Force (Air Forces Europe) is USAFE's Component Numbered Air Force responsible for maintaining a continuous theater-wide situational awareness and providing the Commander, Air Force Forces, the capability to command and control assigned and attached forces.
(Source - USAFE Public Affairs Office)