[Timber Rattler]

A spokesman for the U.S. Air Force’s Central Command pushed back: “We refute the idea that close air support strikes take 'an hour on average'. Depending on the how complex the target environment is, a strike could take place in less than 10 minutes or it could take much longer.

So who to believe, the combat pilot over the target(s), or the worthless staff weenies?

[antidisestablishment]

Well, I can tell you from the MISREPs (mission reports) that I read every day, the pilots are correct. The AFCENT mouthpiece parses his words well: “could take place in less than 10 minutes...”

That does happen—albeit rarely. The average would be much closer to the hour claimed by the pilot. Of course, all offical inquiries go through the PAO and often the JAG (Public Affairs and Legal), so they are always the party line.