506th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron returns home

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Jennifer Redente
  • 36th Wing Public Affairs
MARCH AIR RESERVE BASE, CALIF. --  ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE, Guam-The second team of 110 reservists redeployed to March Air Reserve Base, Calif., after completing the last half of a four-month rotation supporting air refueling missions in the Asia-Pacific region. 

The Airmen from the 452nd Air Mobility Wing flew KC-135 Stratotankers conducting aerial refueling missions for F-22s and B-52s supporting Pacific Command's Theater Security Package and Continuous Bomber. 

In 60 days, the Airmen assigned to 506th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron flew 71 sorties flying 288 hours and refueling approximately 2,500,000 pounds of fuel. 

"Supporting the Continuous Bomber Presence and Theater Security Package missions was a great opportunity to translate all of our training into real world results," said Lt. Col. James Finney, former 506th EARS commander. "Everyone pulled together and functioned as a team. Both of the fellow deployed squadrons, B-52s and F-22s, were 100 percent professional. I'm confident we could perform any mission we were tasked to execute with complete success. At the end of the day, that's what matters." 

From the beginning of the deployment, Colonel Finney said the unit had a successful deployment. 

"We were able to seamlessly integrate into the operations of the 36th Wing," Colonel Finney said. "This allowed us to be very successful in supporting numerous operations with not only the F-22s and B-52s, but also with Navy assets. Additionally, we were able to help Air Force test flights." 

The colonel said flying a memorial flight with family members of Raider 21 was the biggest highlight of their deployment here. 

"The Raider 21 [memorial] flight allowed both our maintainers and aircrew to showcase their years of experience and unparalleled professionalism," he said. "With only four crewmembers, we had decades of experience and well over 20,000 hours of flight experience. That incredible level of experience is one of the many strengths that the Air Force Reserve brings to the fight. The flight went like clockwork and gave us all a good opportunity to reflect that service in the Air Force is much more than just a job." 

Colonel Finney said during their deployment, the maintenance personnel had the opportunity to demonstrate their commitment to the Air Force core values by fixing a broken aircraft tasked for an urgent medical evacuation flight in the middle of the night. 

"Whether it was routine maintenance or fixing a broken air evacuation aircraft, our personnel demonstrated why we have the best Air Force in the world," he said. 

March's tanker unit had challenges while deployed here, but they took it in stride and pressed on with the mission. 

"There are always minor problems to overcome, but as long as we keep focused on the mission, the solutions seem easy," he said. 

The team effort of accomplishing the mission is one of reasons Senior Master Sgt. Nicole Canada, former 506th boom operator, is one of the first to deploy. 

"I've always enjoyed the camaraderie and accomplishment you get with real world missions," Sergeant Canada said. 

The senior NCO felt that working with the different airframes was a great experience for the younger Airmen. 

"I think the integration with the bombers and fighters has been a great learning experience," she said. "New boom operators have received a variety of the experience from the oldest to the newest aircraft in just one deployment. I think it's amazing, and it's great training for the Airmen." 

Sergeant Canada felt the peak of the deployment here was the ability to compete in a training competition with the 96th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron and 525th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron. 

"The Turkey Shoot was the best part of this deployment," she said. "The competition allowed us to physically sit and plan the mission with Airmen who plan and fly missions for other aircraft. That is a unique ability for our organization, not only as reservists, but as air refuelers." 

While each Airman feels that one particular mission is better than the other, the theme of being able to work with the different airframes was a highlight for most reservists from March. 

"Being able to forward deploy to work with the Navy out of Hickam AFB, Hawaii, was an excellent experience," said Capt. Jennifer Phillips, former 506th EARS KC-135 Stratotanker pilot. "We were working with a carrier group refueling F-18s, introducing their new pilots to the KC-135." 

Overall Captain Phillips said the ability to work with different aircraft was great training and unique to their typical missions. 

"Participating in various exercises, working with the different airframes and services was great training for all involved." 

Airmen and KC-135 Stratofortresses from the 916th Air Refueling Wing deployed from Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C., replaced the team from March ARB continuing to support PACOMs Theater Security Package and Continuous Bomber Presence.