332nd Air Expeditionary Group [332th AEG]
The 332nd Air Expeditionary Group “The Tip of the Spear” was activated at Ahmed Al Jaber Air Base, Kuwait in November 1998, replacing the 4406th Operations Group (Provisional) at first only in name. But since then, its mission has evolved and grown to reflect the EAF concept of a consolidated force in a forward location. The package includes F-15E’s or Block 40 F-16s, the A-10s and the F-16CJs. That mix of aircraft, including HH-60 rescue helicopters, gives the 332nd the ability to conduct any Operation Southern Watch mission. The AEG’s population turns over almost completely every 120 days, and the fighter squadrons change every 45 days. With a population of 1,400 people constantly rotating, there is a need for continuity to guide the base and mission. The US compound at Al Jaber is a sandy “fortress” less than a mile in circumference. Most people live in dorms — 12-monthers get their own rooms — and the base has far more comforts than expected of a deployed location.
