MONGOLIA SPACE DEBRIS MISSION

Tech. Sgt. Ronald Dunn, 729th Airlift Squadron loadmaster, guides a Mongolian driver who is backing the truck toward an Air Force Reserve C-17 Globemaster III in Mongolia, Aug. 26. Dunn was part of a crew from March Air Reserve Base, Calif., who were assigned to a mission to retrieve space debris that fell to earth last summer. The parts were identified as expended rocket parts from an Air Force missile launched into space nearly a decade ago. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Linda Welz)

MONGOLIA SPACE DEBRIS MISSION

A local representative observes Tech. Sgt. John Lowe as he weighs a hydrogen fuel tank at the Chinngis Khaan International Airport, Mongolia, Aug. 26, 2011. Lowe was part of a 15-person Air Force Reserve crew that departed from March Air Reserve Base, Calif., on a mission to Mongolia to retrieve fallen satellite parts for NASA. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Linda Welz)

MONGOLIA SPACE DEBRIS MISSION

Master Sgt. Lance Augustine, a 729th Airlift Squadron loadmaster, measures the dimensions of an expended stage II rocket in Mongolia, Aug. 26, 2011. Augustine was part of a 15-person Air Force Reserve crew that departed from March Air Reserve Base, Calif., on a mission to Mongolia to retrieve fallen satellite parts for NASA. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Linda Welz)

MONGOLIA SPACE DEBRIS MISSION

At the Chinngis Khaan International Airport, Tech. Sgt. John Lowe, 50th Aerial Port Squadron, inspects a satellite rocket's expended hydrogen tank, Aug. 26, 2011. The tank and two other pieces of debris fell onto Mongolian soil after orbiting the Earth for nearly a decade. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Linda Welz)

MARCH AIRCRAFT WORKING TOGETHER

729th Airlift Squadron pilots Lt. Col. Jim Daronco and Maj. Dave Losey hold their C-17 Globemaster on a steady course and speed while a 336th/912th Air Refueling Squadron KC-135 Stratotanker lowers its boom for a refueling, June 25. The refueling took place during the 452nd Air Mobility Wing’s employer’s day. Approximately fifty employers of Air Force reservists were able to witness the refueling from the cockpit of the C-17 and the boom pod of the KC-135. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Patrick Cabellon)

March C-17 teams with FEMA for tsunami relief

Help for American Somoa: Aircrew and FEMA members off-load supplies and equipment from the back of a 729th Airlift Squadron C-17 at Hickam AFB in Hawaii. The C-17 flew from March ARB to Dobbins ARB, Ga., Oct. 2, where 16 members of FEMA and a FEMA truck and communications trailer were boarded and flown to Hickam AFB as part of the humanitarian support mission after an earthquake and tsunami devastated the region. After Hickam, the C-17 flew three FEMA passengers and five generators to Pago Pago. On the return flight, the March aircraft carried Army National Guard Soldiers, first responders and Anthony M. Babauta, U.S. Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Insular Areas. March remained on alert for further tsunami relief missions from Oct. 1-6. (U.S. Air Force Photo/ Master Sgt. Daniel Nathaniel III)

March C-17 teams with FEMA for tsunami relief

Help for American Somoa: Aircrew and FEMA members off-load supplies and equipment from the back of a 729th Airlift Squadron C-17 at Hickam AFB in Hawaii. The C-17 flew from March ARB to Dobbins ARB, Ga., Oct. 2, where 16 members of FEMA and a FEMA truck and communications trailer were boarded and flown to Hickam AFB as part of the humanitarian support mission after an earthquake and tsunami devastated the region. After Hickam, the C-17 flew three FEMA passengers and five generators to Pago Pago. On the return flight, the March aircraft carried Army National Guard Soldiers, first responders and Anthony M. Babauta, U.S. Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Insular Areas. March remained on alert for further tsunami relief missions from Oct. 1-6. (U.S. Air Force Photo/ Master Sgt. Daniel Nathaniel III)

March C-17 teams with FEMA for tsunami relief

Help for American Somoa: Aircrew and FEMA members off-load supplies and equipment from the back of a 729th Airlift Squadron C-17 at Hickam AFB in Hawaii. The C-17 flew from March ARB to Dobbins ARB, Ga., Oct. 2, where 16 members of FEMA and a FEMA truck and communications trailer were boarded and flown to Hickam AFB as part of the humanitarian support mission after an earthquake and tsunami devastated the region. After Hickam, the C-17 flew three FEMA passengers and five generators to Pago Pago. On the return flight, the March aircraft carried Army National Guard Soldiers, first responders and Anthony M. Babauta, U.S. Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Insular Areas. March remained on alert for further tsunami relief missions from Oct. 1-6. (U.S. Air Force Photo/ Master Sgt. Daniel Nathaniel III)

March C-17 teams with FEMA for tsunami relief

Help for American Somoa: Aircrew and FEMA members off-load supplies and equipment from the back of a 729th Airlift Squadron C-17 at Hickam AFB in Hawaii. The C-17 flew from March ARB to Dobbins ARB, Ga., Oct. 2, where 16 members of FEMA and a FEMA truck and communications trailer were boarded and flown to Hickam AFB as part of the humanitarian support mission after an earthquake and tsunami devastated the region. After Hickam, the C-17 flew three FEMA passengers and five generators to Pago Pago. On the return flight, the March aircraft carried Army National Guard Soldiers, first responders and Anthony M. Babauta, U.S. Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Insular Areas. March remained on alert for further tsunami relief missions from Oct. 1-6. (U.S. Air Force Photo/ Master Sgt. Daniel Nathaniel III)

March C-17 teams with FEMA for tsunami relief

With the help of fellow aircrew and FEMA members, Tech. Sgt Mike Carrier (far left) off-loads wood planks from the back of a 729th Airlift Squadron C-17 at Hickam AFB in Hawaii. The C-17 flew from March ARB to Dobbins ARB, Ga., Oct. 2, where 16 members of FEMA and a FEMA truck and communications trailer were boarded and flown to Hickam AFB as part of the humanitarian support mission after an earthquake and tsunami devastated the region. After Hickam, the C-17 flew three FEMA passengers and five generators to Pago Pago. On the return flight, the March aircraft carried Army National Guard Soldiers, first responders and Anthony M. Babauta, U.S. Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Insular Areas. March remained on alert for further tsunami relief missions. (U.S. Air Force Photo/ Master Sgt. Daniel Nathaniel III)

March C-17 makes ten flyovers in a single sortie

A C-17 from the 729th Airlift Squadron at March ARB dips to 1,000 feet to fly over the City of Corona’s “July 4 Celebration” at Santana Park. The flyover was the last in a continuous series of 10 flyovers that day. (Photo courtesy of the City of Corona)

Wing partners with FBI during exercise

An aircrew member from the 729th Airlift Squadron prepares to off-load an FBI Rapid Deployment Team and their vehicles from a C-17 at Ramey Field, Puerto Rico, for Patriot Hoover 2009. (U.S.Air Force photo by Master Sgt Rick Sforza)

March transports M1 Abrams tank for training

Members of the 452d TALCE, 50th and 56th Aerial Port Squadrons, and 729th Airlift Squadron remove boards used for traction in loading the M1 Abrams tank into a C-17. The tank was transported to March to train ground crews and aircrews to upload, off-load and fly the tank in preparation for upcoming deployments. (U.S. Air Force photos courtesy Tech. Sgt. Julie Stanyer)

March transports NASA’s Mars exploration robot rover

Wheels were first attached to NASA’s Mars Science Laboratory rover in August 2008. The rover and its descent stage and cruise stage are being assembled and tested at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif., for launch in 2011. The rover has a ground clearance of about 60 centimeters, or 2 feet. The wheel base is 2.2 meters, or 7 feet. (Photo courtesy: NASA/JPL-Caltech)

March gets 9th C-17

Roger Rupp, Boeing liaison to March ARB, speaks with Senior Master Sgt. Bruce Becker inside the C-17 that joined the 452 AMW fleet on Tuesday. SMSgt. Becker assisted with the preacceptance inspection in Charleston, S.C. (U.S Air Force photo by Will Alexander)

March gets 9th C-17

Pilots Lt. Col. Keith Guillotte and Capt. Seth Ewalt converse in the cockpit shortly after parking. (U.S Air Force photo by Will Alexander)

March gets 9th C-17

Senior Master Sgt. Bruce Becker, who helped with the C-17’s preacceptance inspection in Charleston, gets off the aircraft. (U.S Air Force photo by Will Alexander)

WHAT WE DO

Staff Sgt. Abraham Lagunas, an aircraft mechanic, uses a multi-meter to check the lead cell voltage on a C-17 Globemaster III aircraft Nicad battery while the it is being recharge by an RF-80 charger at March Air Reserve Base, Calif. He is an Air Reserve Technician from the 452nd Maintenance Squadron. (U.S. Air Force photo by Val Gempis)

An air show and much more: March ARB C-17 aircrew also supported humanitarian relief missions to Georgia

Lt. Col. Keith Guillotte, mission commander, with his 10-member crew. (U.S. Air Force photo)

An air show and much more: March ARB C-17 aircrew also supported humanitarian relief missions to Georgia

Col. John Zazworsky, commander, Heavy Airlift Wing, answers questions from the media at Papa Air Force Base in Hungary. (U.S. Air Force photo)

Tire check

Staff Sgt. Brian Hicks, an aircraft mechanic from the 452nd Maintenance Squadron, checks the condition of a tire on a C-17 Globemaster III cargo aircraft at March Air Reserve Base, Calif. The aircraft is sitting on jack stands while undergoing routine inspection. (U.S. Air Force photo by Val Gempis)

Common Aircraft Reprogrammable Equipment

Staff Sgt. Carlos A. Rocha updates software for the missile warning system onboard a C-17 Globemaster III at March Air Reserve Base, Calif. He is an electronic warfare technician from the 452nd Maintenance Squadron here. (U.S. Air Force photo/Val Gempis)

Little, but strong: Burned Iraqi child overcomes odds with 729th help

Navy Lt. Cmdr. (Dr) Michelle Perello checks vital signs on a young Iraqi boy on board a March ARB C-17 Globemaster III. The boy is on his way from Balad Air Base, Iraq, to a children’s hospital in Cincinnati. The flight stopped in Ramstein AB, Germany, where Dr. Perello handled the boy’s care. (U.S. Air Force photo)

Flare test

Technical Sgt. Paul Bixler (left) and Staff Sgt. John Gray, both electronic warfare technicians, from the 452nd Maintenance Squadron, March Air Reserve Base, reference their Digital Tecnical Order System (D-TOS) while installing a test set on the flare bucket of a C-17 Globemaster III cargo aircraft. (Photo by Val Gempis)