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Incirlik Airmen practice ACE during exercise

Airman guarding helicopter

U.S. Tech Sgt. Scott Schmidt, 39th Opperational Support Squadron, applies his security forces augmentee training to guard a UH-60 Blackhawk belonging to the U.S. Army 5th Battalion, 101st Combat Aviation Brigade, during Agile Combat Employment training at Incirlik Air Base, Turkey, Aug. 27, 2020. The concepts of ACE fit directly into Incirlik’s mission priority of excellence in surety, operations support and readiness while also building Airmen’s capabilities and skill sets to operate outside their normal duties. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Ryan Lackey)

Airmen standing around a helicopter

Airmen from the 39th Security Forces, Logistics Readiness and Operations Support Squadrons receive UH-60 Blackhawk familiarization training during Agile Combat Employment training at Incirlik Air Base, Turkey, Aug. 26, 2020. The exercise focused on validating new ways to deploy and maneuver assets during a crisis or conflict and operate from locations with varying levels of capacity and support.

Airmen laying in prone position outside

Staff Sgt. Zackery Hedden, 39th Security Forces Squadron Base Defense Operations Center controller, watches Airmen from the 39th Operations Support Squadron and Logistics Readiness Squadrons demonstrate a low crawl technique during Agile Combat Employment training at Incirlik Air Base, Turkey, Aug. 26, 2020. The concepts of ACE fit directly into Incirlik’s mission priority of excellence in surety, operations support and readiness while also building Airmen’s capabilities and skill sets to operate outside their normal duties. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Jeff Andrejcik)

A group of military members listening to another talk inside a helicopter

Specialist Jonathan Simmons, right, 5th Battalion, 101st Combat Aviation Brigade crew chief, familiarizes Airmen from the 39th Security Forces Squadron and Operations Support Squadron with the UH-60 Blackhawk during Agile Combat Employment training at Incirlik Air Base, Turkey, Aug. 24, 2020. The exercise focused on validating new ways to deploy and maneuver assets during a crisis or conflict and operate from locations with varying levels of capacity and support. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Jeff Andrejcik)

Airman pulling fuel hose

U.S. Senior Airman Gabrielle Baer, 39th Security Forces Squadron monitoring facility operator, hefts a hose to supply fuel to a UH-60 Blackhawk belonging to the U.S. Army 5th Battalion, 101st Combat Aviation Brigade, during Agile Combat Employment training at Incirlik Air Base, Turkey, Aug. 27, 2020. The exercise focused on validating new ways to deploy and maneuver assets during a crisis or conflict and operate from locations with varying levels of capacity and support. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Ryan Lackey)

Helicopter flying in the sky

A U.S. UH-60 Blackhawk belonging to the U.S. Army 5th Battalion, 101st Combat Aviation Brigade, comes in for a landing on the flight line during Agile Combat Employment training at Incirlik Air Base, Turkey, Aug. 27, 2020. The exercise focused on validating new ways to deploy and maneuver assets during a crisis or conflict and operate from locations with varying levels of capacity and support. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Ryan Lackey)

Airman working on monitoring equipment

U.S. Tech. Sgt. Lucas King, 39th Operational Support Squadron, and U.S. Staff Sgt. Zachery Hedden, 39th Security Forces Squadron, familiarize themselves with mobile weather monitoring equipment during Agile Combat Employment training at Incirlik Air Base, Turkey, Aug. 27, 2020. Airmen were educated and tested during the exercise to ensure they could be postured to deliver lethal combat power across the spectrum of military operations. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Ryan Lackey)

Airman using a fuel hose

U.S. Tech. Sgt. Lucas King, 39th Operational Support Squadron, practices coupling a fuel hose to a UH-60 Blackhawk belonging to the U.S. Army 5th Battalion, 101st Combat Aviation Brigade, during Agile Combat Employment training at Incirlik Air Base, Turkey, Aug. 27, 2020. The concepts of ACE fit directly into Incirlik’s mission priority of excellence in surety, operations support and readiness while also building Airmen’s capabilities and skill sets to operate outside their normal duties. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Ryan Lackey)

Airman stopping a fuel truck with hand signals

A 39th Logistic Readiness Squadron fuels truck pulls up refueling training during Agile Combat Employment training at Incirlik Air Base, Turkey, Aug. 27, 2020. The exercise focused on validating new ways to deploy and maneuver assets during a crisis or conflict and operate from locations with varying levels of capacity and support. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Ryan Lackey)

Security Airmen clearing a room during practice
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39th Security Forces Squadron augmentee trainees practice room clearing procedures during Agile Combat Employment training at Incirlik Air Base, Turkey, Aug. 26, 2020. The exercise focused on validating new ways to deploy and maneuver assets during a crisis or conflict and operate from locations with varying levels of capacity and support. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Ryan Lackey)

Airman in prone position with toy firearm
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U.S. Staff Sgt. Zachery Hedden, 39th Security Forces Squadron Base Defense Operations Center controller, demonstrates how to stay low under fire during Agile Combat Employment training at Incirlik Air Base, Turkey, Aug. 26, 2020. The concepts of ACE fit directly into Incirlik’s mission priority of excellence in surety, operations support and readiness while also building Airmen’s capabilities and skill sets to operate outside their normal duties. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Ryan Lackey)

Airman being apprehended during simulation
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U.S. Tech. Sgt. Verrick Cubol, 39th Security Forces Squadron response team leader, and Senior Airman William Volk, 39th SFS monitoring facility operator, demonstrate challenging and apprehending suspects in a classroom setting for Agile Combat Employment training at Incirlik Air Base, Turkey, Aug. 26, 2020. The exercise focused on validating new ways to deploy and maneuver assets during a crisis or conflict and operate from locations with varying levels of capacity and support. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Ryan Lackey)

INCIRLIK AIR BASE, Turkey --

INCIRLIK AIR BASE, Turkey -- Airmen from the 39th Air Base Wing conducted an Agile Combat Employment exercise here Aug. 26-28. 

The exercise focused on validating new ways to deploy and maneuver assets during potential short or no-notice crises or conflict while operating from locations with varying levels of capacity and support.

“With increasing adversary capability, USAFE-AFAFRICA Airmen must be postured and prepared to not only fight on a moment’s notice but to remain unpredictable at the tactical level,” said Gen. Jeff Harrigian, USAFE-AFAFRICA commander. “Operationalizing ACE allows us, along with our allies and partners, to become more agile in our execution, more strategic in our deterrence, and more resilient in our capability. Agility, deterrence and resiliency are the essential keys to our force being able to defend and operate in a contested environment.”

Incirlik Air Base, like other U.S. Forces in Europe, continues to exercise ways to improve passive and active defense capabilities. This posture ensures contingency forces have the capabilities and flexibility to effectively conduct their mission while also protecting assets and personnel.

“Part of the training was teaching non-security forces augmentees to go out into an expeditionary field, set and secure an aircraft to the best of their ability,” said Staff Sgt. William Volk, 39th Security Forces Squadron monitoring facility operator. “Some of the training consisted of basic weapon tactics, how to shoot, move and communicate as a team and how to provide 360 degrees defense.” 

The concepts of ACE fits directly into Incirlik’s mission of projecting global power through strategic deterrence, agile combat support, and enduring partnerships to defend U.S. interests and our allies along NATO’s southern flank.

“I've been an air traffic controller now for five years, and I've never had an experience like this,” said Staff Sgt. Liam Smith, 39th Operations Support Squadron air traffic controller. “I thought it was beneficial because it allows continuity of operations in a deployed environment so that nothing has to stop.”

In the future, USAFE will continue to include the ACE concept from a variety of locations to ensure the air component can maintain command and control of forces and retain the initiative in a contested environment.