SPANGDAHLEM AIR BASE, Germany -- Nearly 200 Airmen assigned to the 606th Air Control Squadron returned to Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, Oct. 20, 2016, from a six-month rotational deployment to Southwest Asia in support of Operations Freedom’s Sentinel and Inherent Resolve.
The squadron’s return takes place in the midst of its relocation from Spangdahlem to Aviano Air Base, Italy, in early 2017 as part of the European Infrastructure Consolidation plan.
“We directly controlled 38,000 coalition aircraft and supported not only Inherent Resolve but Freedom’s Sentinel in making sure that we deliver that airpower on a day-to-day basis,” said Lt. Col. Jason Zemler, 606th ACS director of operations.
Zemler said he was most proud of the squadron’s ability to handle every Airman’s mission sets for the six-month deployment and merge it into one successful rotation while balancing a requirement to prepare for the move to Aviano.
“There’s definite challenges with that, but the team did absolutely awesome,” he said. “We look forward to future accomplishments as well. We’re just excited for them to have some downtime and enjoy that.”
The 606th ACS is a self-sustaining squadron consisting of maintenance, supply and approximately 21 other Air Force specialties.
The unit continues to provide daily command and control to the 480th Fighter Squadron, in addition to the occasional control of E-3A Sentry AWACS from NATO Air Base Geilenkirchen, Germany, and visiting aircraft from around the U.S. Air Forces in Europe’s scope of operations.