12th Air Task Force inactivates after combat duty in Middle East Published June 29, 2026 By By Karen Petitt 375th Air Mobility Wing SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. -- SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. – After a year-long training and certification period, followed by a nine-month deployment in the Middle East, the 12th Air Task Force inactivated today, making way for the Air Force’s updated deployment model, the Air Expeditionary Wing 2.0. The 12th ATF stood up in September 2024 to train and deploy approximately 2,500 Airmen from three bases in an effort to lay the groundwork for how the Air Force would present combat ready forces in the future. They were the first of six ATFs across the Air Force to certify and deploy to their areas of operation, taking command of the 378th Air Expeditionary Wing in U.S. Central Command’s area of operation. Airmen from Little Rock AFB, Arkansas, and Barksdale AFB, Louisianna, joined Scott AFB in this effort. The unit served as a bridge between the expeditionary air base and Air Expeditionary Wing 2.0 deployment models, paving the way for how the Air Force employs wing-level command and control units in combat. Maj. Gen. Gerald Donohue, Air Mobility Command’s interim deputy commander, receives the unit guidon from Col. Scott Davis, 12th Air Task Force commander, during the 12th ATF inactivation ceremony on Scott Air Force Base, Illinois, June 29, 2026. Donohue praised the members of the 12th ATF for their actions and accomplishments during their nine-month deployment. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Izcalli X Martinez) Photo Details / Download Hi-Res Maj. Gen. Gerald Donohue, Air Mobility Command’s interim deputy commander and presiding officer for the inactivation ceremony, shared his thanks to the members of the 12th ATF for their role as “pathfinders” for the Air Force and for their bravery during the height of Operation Epic Fury. While deployed the 12th ATF supported multiple operations while deployed under U.S. Central Command, generating 1,200 sorties, while engaging in 14 coalition exercises and the region’s two largest air shows. Then, when the U.S. launched Operation Epic Fury, Donohue said Airmen on the frontlines performed admirably under persistent threat moving cargo and generating aircraft sorties to achieve national objectives. “You encountered combat to a scale that no one in our current generation has ever experienced. You put yourselves at personal risk to ensure that the base was protected, that our aircraft were safeguarded, and that you could continue to generate combat power in support of our national objectives. Our nation cannot thank you enough,” Donohue said. He also thanked families, spouses and the entire support network who were back at home stations for their commitment and resolve during their combat operations. Donohue congratulated Col. Scott Davis, who relinquished command of the 12th ATF, and presented him with the Legion of Merit Service Medal. Davis, he said, proved to be a highly capable strategic planner and combat leader, and he successfully identified structural problems, managed a massive budget to train a scattered workforce, and ultimately commanded them through a large-scale combat operation. “You were the right Airman for the job. You took your marching orders, moved out swiftly and led your Airmen through one of the most significant operations in U.S. history. You had the privilege of leading through crisis, and you’ll continue to do great things for the [Air Force].” U.S. Air Force Col. Scott Davis, 12th Air Task Force commander, speaks on behalf of the 12th ATF during the unit’s inactivation ceremony on Scott Air Force Base, Illinois, June 29, 2026. The 12th ATF stood up in September 2024 to train and deploy approximately 2,500 Airmen from three bases. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Izcalli X Martinez) Photo Details / Download Hi-Res Davis, who has since taken command at Fairchild AFB, Washington, shared his overview of the legacy of the 12th ATF team. He said that the ATF proved that bringing Airmen from different bases together months before deploying to train as a unit dramatically improved combat readiness and trust. It successfully demonstrated how small agile teams could disperse and operation out of remote, austere locations, and it helped solidify the need to preserve familiar command structures to prevent burnout. Additionally, their pre-deployment training experiences provided the blueprint for the certification requirements now being used to greenlight the units who are deploying under the AEW 2.0 model. Before encasing the unit flag to mark its inactivation, Davis said that this team has shaped history and future of the Air Force through the performance of their duties. “It has truly been my honor to lead you, and thank you will never be enough,” he said. “We owe our spouses and families a debt of gratitude for their support and ability to care for each other. You have demonstrated what a ‘Unit of Action’ can do, and you can be proud of what we’ve accomplished.”