Afghan logistics

Afghan Air Force Lt. Farhad and Sgt. Maj. Gulbahar, loadmasters, guide a fork lift with a pallet of aircraft parts, at Kabul, Afghanistan, International Airport, Dec. 9, 2012. The pallet of parts will be delivered to another Afghan AF base. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Dennis J. Henry Jr.)

Afghan logistics

Afghan Air Force Lt. Farhad and Sgt. Maj. Gulbahar, loadmasters, guide a fork lift with a pallet of aircraft parts, at Kabul, Afghanistan, International Airport, Dec. 9, 2012. The pallet of parts will be delivered to another Afghan AF base. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Dennis J. Henry Jr.)

Afghan logistics

Afghan Air Force Lt. Farhad, a loadmaster, guides a fork lift with a pallet of aircraft parts, at Kabul, Afghanistan, International Airport, Dec. 9, 2012. The pallet of parts will be delivered to another Afghan AF base. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Dennis J. Henry Jr.)

Afghan logistics

Afghan Air Force Lt. Farhad, a loadmaster, guides a fork lift with a pallet of aircraft parts, at Kabul, Afghanistan, International Airport, Dec. 9, 2012. The pallet of parts will be delivered to another Afghan AF base. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Dennis J. Henry Jr.)

The Airmen behind the mobility 'curtain'

1st Lt. Amanda Elliott and Capt. Allen Batiste, both from the U.S. Air Forces Central Command Air Mobility Division airlift control team in Southwest Asia, review movement plans for aircraft Oct. 15, 2012, at the Combined Air and Space Operations Center AMD work section. While aircrews and aircraft do the “heavy lifting” of transporting passengers from one point to another, AMD plans and coordinates each movement within the theater, ensuring the success of all mobility operations. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Mike Andriacco)

Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF)

U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Dallas Powers, 728th Air Mobility Squadron ,Operation Location-Alpha expediter, checks on the arrival of a C-17 Globemaster III, Transit Center at Manas, Kyrgyzstan, Sept. 15, 2012. Powers and his crew of maintainers are an important piece of keeping the C-17, with its expansive airlift and transport capabilities, operational in the AOR. The U.S. military is drawing down forces in Afghanistan and are redeploying combat forces while transitioning security control to the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF). The ANSF and U.S. forces have worked closely and effectively to transition control of security in Afghanistan. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Clay Lancaster)

Laghman PRT

U.S. Air Force civil engineers Capt. Hans Winkler of the 633rd Civil Engineer Squadron, Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Va., and 1st Lt. Jasamine Pettie of the 60th Civil Engineer Squadron, Travis Air Force Base, Calif., talk to children in the Laghman province, Afghanistan April 19, 2012. The engineers are deployed to the Laghman Provincial Reconstruction Team, tasked to help increase local government infrastructure in the Laghman Province. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. DeNoris A. Mickle)

Laghman PRT

Afghan National Army prepare for a joint mission with U.S. Airmen and Soldiers in the Laghman Province, Afghanistan April 19, 2012. The Afghan soldiers will aid the Laghman Provincial Reconstruction Team, who is tasked to help increase local government infrastructure in the Laghman Province. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. DeNoris A. Mickle)

Oldest pilot in Air Force flies last combat mission of career

U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. James Routt with the 550th Special Operations Squadron, talks with his crew on the last combat mission of his career, Bagram Air Field, Afghanistan, April 12, 2012. Routt is currently the oldest active duty pilot in the Air Force and is augmenting for the 71st Expeditionary Rescue Squadron. The mission of the 71st ERQS is to provide personnel recovery, casualty evacuation and aeromedical evacuation assets from hostile locations. The 71st ERQS is the only fixed wing aircraft squadron dedicated to medical evacuation missions in Afghanistan. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Greg C. Biondo)

Oldest pilot in Air Force flies last combat mission of career

U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. James Routt with the 550th Special Operations Squadron, shares a laugh with his crew on the last combat mission of his career, Bagram Air Field, Afghanistan, April 12, 2012. Routt is currently the oldest active duty pilot in the Air Force and is augmenting for the 71st Expeditionary Rescue Squadron. The mission of the 71st ERQS is to provide personnel recovery, casualty evacuation and aeromedical evacuation assets from hostile locations. The 71st ERQS is the only fixed wing aircraft squadron dedicated to medical evacuation missions in Afghanistan. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Greg C. Biondo)

Oldest pilot in Air Force flies last combat mission of career

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Mark Hanna, a flight engineer with the 71st Expeditionary Rescue Squadron, and Lt. Col. James Routt with the 550th Special Operations Squadron, perform pre-flight checks on their HC-130P King, Camp Bastion, Afghanistan, April 12, 2012. Routt is currently the oldest active duty pilot in the Air Force and is augmenting for the 71st Expeditionary Rescue Squadron. The mission of the 71st ERQS is to provide personnel recovery, casualty evacuation and aeromedical evacuation assets from hostile locations. The 71st ERQS is the only fixed wing aircraft squadron dedicated to medical evacuation missions in Afghanistan. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Greg C. Biondo)

Oldest pilot in Air Force flies last combat mission of career

A group of Afghan local nationals wait to be transported to a larger medical facility on a HC-130P King from the 71st Expeditionary Rescue Squadron, while members of the 651st Expeditionary Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron ensure they remain in stable condition, Foward Operating Base Tarin Kowt, Afghanistan, April 12, 2012. The 651st EAES works hand-in-hand with the 71st ERQS to provide quick response aeromedical evacuation from austere and hostile locations. The 71st ERQS is the only fixed wing aircraft dedicated to medical evacuation missions in Afghanistan. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Greg C. Biondo)