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Scott History: 2000s

  • Published
  • 375th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs

Through the U.S. Transportation Command and the Air Mobility Command, Scott AFB became a vital part of the Global War on Terrorism.

In response to the terrorist attack on Sept. 11, 2001, Scott AFB deployed 12 flight crews assigned to six C-9 Nightingale aircraft to Andrews AFB, Va., along with 25 physicians, intensive care nurses and CPR technicians to help with the relief efforts after the terrorist attacks.

In October of 2001, Operation Noble Eagle began to defend the skies over North America. In a televised address, President George Bush launched his "war on terror," which was later referred to as the “Global War on Terror.”

During the same month, Operation Enduring Freedom began, which aimed to capture Osama Bin Laden and other high-ranking Al-Qaeda members, destroy their network and remove the supporting Taliban regime from Afghanistan.

The U.S. also airlifted humanitarian aid to Afghan refugees displaced by the conflict.

In 2003, U.S. forces invaded Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom, because Saddam Hussein’s government had circumvented United Nations’ resolutions, and appeared to be aiding Al Qaeda and developing biological and chemical weapons of mass destruction.

Scott AFB received injured patients from Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom before C-130s flew them to their respective units.

By the end of 2003, the 18th Air Force activated on Scott AFB and has an incomparable combination of airlift and air refueling missions, as well as the command and control of air mobility assets around the globe.

In early 2004, 375th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron members traveled to Haiti to operate an Air Evacuation Liaison Team in support of Operation Secure Tomorrow.

While Scott AFB had always given support to hurricane victims, the base really stepped forward to assist during Hurricane Katrina in August 2005. The 375th Medical Group deployed personnel, who organized the international airport in New Orleans, so the military could airlift victims out.

Approximately 200 wing members, primarily from the 375th Medical Group and the 375th Civil Engineer Squadron deployed in support of Joint Task Force-Katrina.

Medical personnel set up a medical evacuation center at the Louis Armstrong International Airport in New Orleans, The 375th CES members cleaned the area, restored utilities and established a tent city for the 82nd Airborne Division.

Also in 2005, the U.S. Military Surface Deployment and Distribution Command relocated to Scott AFB to be closely aligned with U.S. Transportation Command. The SDDC is the second branch of USTRANSCOM and deploys more than 90 percent of Department of Defense equipment and supplies.

Near the end of 2009, the 906th Air Refueling Squadron moved from the 319th Operations Group at Grand Forks AFB in North Dakota, to the 375th Operations Group at Scott AFB.

In conjunction with this realignment, the 375th Airlift Wing became the 375th Air Mobility Wing. The Total Force Integration effort created an associate unit including active duty KC-135 pilots, boom operators, and maintainers who worked the 126th Air Refueling Wing.