Operation Phoenix Scorpion I, II, III and IV

Operation Phoenix Scorpion is Air Mobility Command?s support of the deployment of US forces to the Persian Gulf.

Operation Phoenix Scorpion I - November 1997 - Supported the deployment of bombers and, fighters to the Persian Gulf region. In response to Iraq?s defiance to United Nations weapons inspections in November 1997, the United States rapidly deployed forces to numerous locations throughout the world, in preparation for coercive airstrikes against Iraq. This deployment exemplified the US military?s reliance on rapid global mobility to implement national security objectives. On 18 November 1997, over 190 crews were placed in crew rest to support aircraft movements during the pre-positioning phase of the operations. On 20 November six B-52s departed Barksdale Air Force Base en route to Diego Garcia. Twenty-six KC-135s and 9 KC-10s, flying 76 air-refueling missions, were needed to air refuel the B-52s during their 28.5 hour, non-stop flight. In the opposite direction, 6 F-117s departed eastbound for Al Jaber. They arrived 15 hours after departure, requiring fuel from 7 KC-135s and 4 KC-10s. This large quick reaction force package was in position and ready to respond to the crisis less than 36 hours after launch. The deployment presented a clear show of both force and resolve by the United States, which convinced Iraqi leaders to allow the UN inspectors access to sensitive areas. In this instance, rapid global mobility allowed the United States to accomplish its objectives without having to resort to lethal means. AMC deployment included the MARC, or Mobility Air Reporting and Communications shelter, which is the heart of a deployed Air Mobility Command Tanker Airlift Control Element, or TALCE. The shelter deploys with the TALCE, a small force of about 180 people that runs airfield command and control for large exercises or real-world operations such as Operation Phoenix Scorpion.

Operation Phoenix Scorpion II - February 1998 - As of 11 February 1998 Air Mobility Command had transported more than 2,800 armed forces personnel and 2,700 tons of cargo in support of U.S. national security objectives. AMC had flown the equivalent of 46 C-5 airlift missions (60-ton cargo capacity per mission) and the equivalent of 62 KC-135 air refueling missions (80,000-pound fuel offload capacity per mission), hauling more than 2,700 tons of cargo and offloading more than 4.5 million pounds of fuel. The command also had more than 950 personnel deployed in support of current operations. More than 20 commercial planes flew nearly 5,000 Army troops from Fort Stewart Feb. 16-24, and nearly 150 of AMC?s C-5s, C-141s and C-17s took on more than 3,500 tons of cargo and equipment like helicopters, trucks and Humvees.

Operation Phoenix Scorpion III - On 13 November 1998 Air Mobility Command began pre-positioning aircraft and personnel in Southwest Asia and other strategic locations today to support the deployment of US forces to the region. Air Mobility Command transport aircraft flew more than 270 missions and airlifted over 2,700 tons of cargo and 3,000 passengers during the five-day military deployment to Southwest Asia. Besides the forces deployed to the region, AMC had more than 25 aircraft in intermediate locations in Europe and approximately 20 more on alert in the United States.

Operation Phoenix Scorpion IV - December 1998 Other Air Mobility Command operations include

Operation Phoenix Banner

Operation Phoenix Copper

Operation Phoenix Dagger

Operation Phoenix Moat

Operation Phoenix Onyx

Operation Phoenix Pace

Operation Phoenix Perch

Operation Phoenix Shark