Major Alan Wesenberg, US Air Force, deployed as a flight commander of a 12-aircraft air expeditionary force (AEF) element of the 492nd Fighter Squadron form March to June 2004. Flying F-15Es from Royal Air Force Lakenheath, United Kingdom, to Al-Udeid Airbase, Qatar, Wesenberg and his airmen had intensively prepared for deployment by participating in both Red Flag and Combat Hammer exercises back in the US. These air-to-air and air-to-ground training exercises were a standard part of the AEF mission preparation, as was an additional program of individual training of flight leads and instructors. Wesenberg's pilots met their ground crews in Qatar as they replaced the 391st Fighter Squadron - also an F-15E unit - from Mountain Home Air Force Base. Rotations for USAF elements were 90 days during this period, to balance providing an operational capability with maintaining the required matrix of professional qualifications for pilots and crews, as well as managing the complex maintenance requirements. Missions originated for Iraq and on occasion Afghanistan from the air tasking order. Flying 40 combat sorties during his rotation, Wesenberg used an array of ordnance, taking direction from joint terminal attack controllers (JTACs) to employ a mix of precision-guided munitions up to and including joint direct attack munitions (JDAMs) down to a cannon capability provided by 20 millimeter gun pods. The air tasking order would mix ordnance on the aircraft of these mission packages, providing maximum flexibility. Differences exist among the military services with respect to coordination for and use of close air support. Despite training and coordination, collateral damage can occur, as it did for Wesenberg supporting a US Marine Corps JTAC near Fallujah - bombing what proved to be the wrong house in response to a call for close air support after Marine units came under mortar fire. Rules of engagement varied between ground components and Wesenberg's squadron. Confusion can also arise from the assumption that all military communications are interoperable.

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