340th EARS 50,000 Flight Hours for 2012

Lt. Col. Chan Conrad, 340th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron pilot, conducts an in-flight refueling mission on a KC-135 Stratotanker over Afghanistan, Dec. 22. During this flight the 340th EARS reached 50,000 flying hours for the year 2012. During the mission, the aircrew refueled a B-1B Lancer and an F-16 Fighting Falcon over Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Conrad is deployed from Pease Air National Guard Base, N.H. and is a native of Raleigh, N.C. (US Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Ashley Reed)

340th EARS 50,000 Flight Hours for 2012

A 340th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron KC-135 Stratotanker refuels an F-16 Fighting Falcon over Afghanistan, Dec. 22. The F-16 Fighting Falcon, deployed from Shaw Air Force Base, S.C., received fuel in order to conduct missions in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. (US Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Ashley Reed)

62nd Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron

U.S. Air Force members of the 62nd Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron (ERS), a coalition squadron operated by U.S. and Royal Air Force (RAF) forces, taxi an MQ-9 Reaper, Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan, June 25, 2012. The 62nd ERS mission is to launch and recover remotely piloted aircraft before handing over control to Creech Air Force Base, Nev. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Clay Lancaster/ Released)

62nd Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron

An MQ-9 Reaper remotely piloted aircraft, 62nd Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron, touches down at Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan, June 25, 2012. The 62nd ERS mission is to launch and recover remotely piloted aircraft before handing over control to Creech Air Force Base, Nev. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Clay Lancaster/ Released)

22nd EARS goes where needed to make mission happen

A U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon (Viper) is refueled over Afghanistan during overseas contingency operations, August 3, 2012. The 22d Expeditionary Air Refueling Sq. (EARS) conducts missions out of Transit Center at Manas, Kyrgyzstan, and plays an integral role in keeping air assets refueled in support of U.S. and coalition ground forces. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Clay Lancaster/ Released)

Hawaiian Airman

A U.S. A-10 Thunderbolt is refueled over Afghanistan during overseas contingency operations, August 2, 2012. The 22d Expeditionary Air Refueling Sq. (EARS) conducts missions out of Transit Center at Manas, Kyrgyzstan, and plays an integral role in keeping air assets refueled in support of U.S. and coalition ground forces. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Clay Lancaster/ Released)

French Air Force a coalition partner during Operation Enduring Freedom

Security Forces members of the French Air Force, Detachment 3/3, conduct Operation Enduring Freedom base defense roles in order to support coalition forces on Kandahar Airfield and in the Kandahar Province, Afghanistan, June 20, 2012. The French AF has been a coalition partner with the U.S. during Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) and perform air to ground close air support missions for friendly ground forces.(U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Clay Lancaster)

French Air Force a coalition partner during Operation Enduring Freedom

Members of the French Air Force, Detachment 3/3, in the Mirage 2000-D takeoff during a combat mission at Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan, June 18, 2012. Approximately 3,000 French troops are currently deployed in support of OEF and ISAF. Of that, approximately 300 FAF Airmen are stationed in Afghanistan, Tajikistan and Southwest Asia.(U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Clay Lancaster)

26 ERQS provides confidence, combat rescue capability to ground forces

CAMP BASTION, Afghanistan -- A HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter from the 26th Expeditionary Rescue Squadron executes a mission here.The 26th ERQS compliments their traditional personnel recovery mission with medical evacuation operations in Afghanistan’s Regional Command Southwest. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Tyler Placie)

F-16 jets providing Top Cover in Iraq

A U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon from the 125th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron provides top cover for U.S. forces as they transition personnel and equipment out of Iraq, Nov. 9, 2011. The 125th EFS consists of F-16s, pilots, maintenance specialists and support personnel from the Oklahoma Air National Guard’s 138th Fighter Wing in Tulsa, Okla., the Ohio Air National Guard’s 180th Fighter Wing in Toledo, Ohio, and the Arizona Air National Guard’s 162nd Fighter Wing in Tucson, Ariz.(U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Cecilio Ricardo)

F-16 jets providing Top Cover in Iraq

Two U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcons from the 125th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron fly over Iraq, Nov. 9, 2011, providing top cover for U.S. forces as they transition personnel and equipment out of the country. The 125th EFS consists of F-16s, pilots, maintenance specialists and support personnel from the Oklahoma Air National Guard’s 138th Fighter Wing in Tulsa, Okla., the Ohio Air National Guard’s 180th Fighter Wing in Toledo, Ohio, and the Arizona Air National Guard’s 162nd Fighter Wing in Tucson, Ariz. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Cecilio Ricardo)

F-16 jets providing Top Cover in Iraq

A U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon from the 125th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron provides top cover for U.S. forces as they transition personnel and equipment out of Iraq, Nov. 9, 2011. The 125th EFS consists of F-16s, pilots, maintenance specialists and support personnel from the Oklahoma Air National Guard’s 138th Fighter Wing in Tulsa, Okla., the Ohio Air National Guard’s 180th Fighter Wing in Toledo, Ohio, and the Arizona Air National Guard’s 162nd Fighter Wing in Tucson, Ariz.(U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Cecilio Ricardo)

U.S. and Salvadoran airmen team up to mentor Afghans

U.S. and Afghan flight crews land at a remote Afghan Border Patrol outpost to provide emergency resupply. U.S. and Salvadoran airmen advise Afghan soldiers on maintenance, operations, flight, and security of the Mi-17 helicopter. (U.S. Air Force Photo/SrA Tyler Placie)

U.S. and Salvadoran airmen team up to mentor Afghans

U.S. and Afghan flight crews fly to a remote Afghan Border Patrol outpost to provide emergency resupply. U.S. and Salvadoran airmen advise Afghan soldiers on maintenance, operations, flight, and security of the Mi-17 Helicopter. (U.S. Air Force Photo/SrA Tyler Placie)

F-16s arrived!

Tech. Sgt. Jeremiah Johnson, a crew chief from the 125th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron, loads missiles onto an F-16 Fighting Falcon minutes after it arrived in Iraq Oct. 1, 2011. The squadron deployed in support of Operation New Dawn and will provide close air support for more than 40,000 troops leaving Iraq by the end of the year. The 125th EFS is comprised of F-16s, pilots, maintenance specialists and support personnel from the Oklahoma Air National Guard’s 138th Fighter Wing in Tulsa, Okla. The squadron also includes members from the Ohio Air National Guard’s 180th Fighter Wing in Toledo, Ohio, and the Arizona Air National Guard’s 162nd Fighter Wing in Tucson, Ariz. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Cecilio Ricardo)

F-16s arrived!

Tech. Sgt. Jeremiah Johnson, a crew chief from the 125th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron, loads missiles onto an F-16 Fighting Falcon minutes after it arrived in Iraq Oct. 1, 2011. The squadron deployed in support of Operation New Dawn and will provide close air support for more than 40,000 troops leaving Iraq by the end of the year. The 125th EFS is comprised of F-16s, pilots, maintenance specialists and support personnel from the Oklahoma Air National Guard’s 138th Fighter Wing in Tulsa, Okla. The squadron also includes members from the Ohio Air National Guard’s 180th Fighter Wing in Toledo, Ohio, and the Arizona Air National Guard’s 162nd Fighter Wing in Tucson, Ariz. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Cecilio Ricardo)

F-16s arrived!

A weapons loader from the 125th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron performs a post flight check on an F-16 Fighting Falcon after its arrival in Iraq Oct. 1, 2011. The squadron deployed in support of Operation New Dawn and will provide close air support for more than 40,000 troops leaving Iraq by the end of the year. The 125th EFS is comprised of F-16s, pilots, maintenance specialists and support personnel from the Oklahoma Air National Guard’s 138th Fighter Wing in Tulsa, Okla. The squadron also includes members from the Ohio Air National Guard’s 180th Fighter Wing in Toledo, Ohio, and the Arizona Air National Guard’s 162nd Fighter Wing in Tucson, Ariz. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Cecilio Ricardo)

F-16s arrived!

A crew chief from the 125th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron directs the pilot of an F-16 Fighting Falcon to a parking spot after the jets arrived in Iraq Oct. 1, 2011. The 125th EFS deployed to Iraq in support of Operation New Dawn and will provide close air support for more than 40,000 troops leaving country by the end of the year. The squadron is comprised of F-16s, pilots, maintenance specialists and support personnel from the Oklahoma Air National Guard’s 138th Fighter Wing in Tulsa, Okla. The squadron also includes members from the Ohio Air National Guard’s 180th Fighter Wing in Toledo, Ohio, and the Arizona Air National Guard’s 162nd Fighter Wing in Tucson, Ariz. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Cecilio Ricardo)

Iraqi pilots perform final check ride

Air Force instructor pilots assigned to the 52nd Expeditionary Flying Training Squadron, perform formation maneuvers during final check rides for Iraqi pilots over Combat Operation Base Speicher in Tikrit, Iraq, Sept. 5, 2011. The check ride was the final test in order for the Iraqis to become qualified instructor pilots. The training, provided by the U.S., laid the foundation for the Iraqi air force to sustain its own pilot training program. The new Iraqi instructor pilots were trained in the T-6A Texan II. (U.S. Air Force Photo/SrA Tyler Placie)

Iraqi pilots perform final check ride

Air Force instructor pilots assigned to the 52nd Expeditionary Flying Training Squadron, fly in formation during final check rides for Iraqi pilots over Combat Operation Base Speicher in Tikrit, Iraq, Sept. 5, 2011. The check ride was the final test in order for the Iraqis to become qualified instructor pilots. The training, provided by the U.S., laid the foundation for the Iraqi air force to sustain its own pilot training program. The new Iraqi instructor pilots were trained in the T-6A Texan II. (U.S. Air Force Photo/SrA Tyler Placie)

Iraqi pilots perform final check ride

Air Force instructor pilots assigned to the 52nd Expeditionary Flying Training Squadron, fly in formation for final check rides of Iraqi pilots over Combat Operation Base Speicher in Tikrit, Iraq, Sept. 5, 2011. The check ride was the final test in order for the Iraqis to become qualified instructor pilots. The training, provided by the U.S., laid the foundation for the Iraqi air force to sustain its own pilot training program. The new Iraqi instructor pilots were trained in the T-6A Texan II. (U.S. Air Force Photo/SrA Tyler Placie)

Iraqi pilots perform final check ride

Air Force instructor pilots assigned to the 52nd Expeditionary Flying Training Squadron, taxi before performing final check rides for Iraqi pilots over Combat Operation Base Speicher in Tikrit, Iraq, Sept. 5, 2011. The check ride was the final test in order for the Iraqis to become qualified instructor pilots. The training, provided by the U.S., laid the foundation for the Iraqi air force to sustain its own pilot training program. The new Iraqi instructor pilots were trained in the T-6A Texan II. (U.S. Air Force Photo/SrA Tyler Placie)

F-16 over Afghanistan

A Belgian F-16 pilot maneuvers into position behind a U.S. Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker before aerial refueling. The pilot is on a mission providing close air support to coalition forces in Afghanistan. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Master Sgt. Jeffrey Allen)

F-16 over Afghanistan

A Belgian F-16 pilot maneuvers into position behind a U.S. Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker before aerial refueling. The pilot is on a mission providing close air support to coalition forces in Afghanistan. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Master Sgt. Jeffrey Allen)