With threats emerging all over the globe, airmen will continue to have a presence wherever they’re needed.

In Europe, the pace of rotational deployments and training exercises was high in 2017, and 2018 won’t be any different, according to the head of U.S. Air Forces in Europe.

“We can anticipate that the thickness of the training events and exercises that occurred in 2017 will be equally as thick in 2018, and we think those numbers of events are just about right,” Gen. Tod Wolters told reporters during a Sept. 8 telephonic roundtable.

With more than 30,000 airmen based in Europe now, Wolters said the rotational presence is getting the job done, even amid the national pilot shortage and a high deploy-to-dwell ratio.

In the Pacific, airmen will continue to exercise with their Japanese and South Korean counterparts, the united States’ key allies in the region.

Gen. Terrence O’Shaughnessy, commander of Pacific Air Forces, said there’s been an “amazing amount” of activity within the Pacific theater.

“We have to continue to work on our readiness and continue to advance our capabilities,” he said.

On the mobility side, cargo and transport aircraft take off every 2.8 minutes around the world, supporting a range of missions — whether it’s moving equipment and people or refueling fighter jets overseas.

These missions won’t slow down in 2018 as airmen are needed to support the United States’ presence in Europe, the Pacific and the Middle East.

About Charlsy Panzino

Charlsy is a Reporter and Engagement Manager for Military Times. Email her at cpanzino@militarytimes.com.

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