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22 EARS reaches 16,000th sortie milestone

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Carolyn Viss
  • 376th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
TRANSIT CENTER AT MANAS, Kyrgyzstan --  April 10, 2010, went down in 22nd Expeditionary Refueling Squadron history when an air crew logged their 16,000th sortie.

Providing air-to-air refueling for aircraft supporting the war fighter on the ground in Afghanistan, the rugged KC-135 Stratotanker off-loaded hundreds of pounds of jet fuel to FA-18s, marking a moment that represents immeasurable effort from the men and women of the Transit Center at Manas, Kyrgyzstan.

"Simply put, we get the gas to the fight," said Lt. Col. Michael Seiler, the 22nd EARS commander. "We enable so much down there; we touch just about every action that has any input from the air at all. You name it; we're there - all over Afghanistan. There's not one section we don't touch."

The nostalgic, '57 model tankers are, in his words, a "testament" to the manufacturer (Boeing) and the pilots who fly it.

"It's a tired airplane, but it does a fantastic job," the colonel said.

This 16,000th sortie is a culmination of monumental efforts, not just by air crews and maintainers, but the whole team at Manas, Colonel Seiler said.

"It takes the full infrastructure to make this happen. So to recognize 16,000 sorties is phenomenal," he said. "Everyone here has an impact, from the youngest Airman to the most experience aviator. Crews have come and gone, but the mission has continued flawlessly since 2001."

The air refueling mission is a total team effort, said Col. Chris Patterson, the 379th Expeditionary Operations Group commander. Every unit on the Transit Center has a piece of getting the aircrews or airplanes ready to fly.

"The men and women of the 22nd EARS are making history every day," Colonel Patterson said. "When you talk with them, they are all very humble; but there is no doubt in my mind that my grandkids will study the Global War on Terror and read about the great efforts of the 22nd EARS. They are the heroes of tomorrow, getting it done today!"

Kyrgyzstan has been a strategic partner with the U.S. Air Force and Defense Department, Colonel Seiler said. He called the relationship "phenomenal" and said he hopes it will continue for another 16,000 sorties, and then some - "till we hit the 'mission complete' mark."

Kyrgyzstan is a close country to Afghanistan with air refueling aircraft, according to the operations group commander. This allows for rapid launch of our tankers when unplanned situations develop for the ground war fighters.

"The Kyrgyz people are very supportive of the Transit Center," Colonel Patterson said. "First and foremost, they allow us to operate out of their major international airport.
The colonels agree the tanker mission is essential to the four main mission sets of the Transit Center at Manas, which are to move people, fuel, and cargo, and provide humanitarian assistance.

"The strategic agreements cement the cooperation and friendship of the United States and Kyrgyzstan," Colonel Patterson said. "It is important for the Kyrgyz people to know that the United States is investing in their country not only because of the war in Afghanistan but also because we are partners."