Staff Sgt. Aaron Tessmann conducts a pre-flight check of his life support equipment on a KC-135 Stratotanker stationed at the Transit Center at Manas, Kyrgyzstan, Aug. 27, 2011. Tessman is a 22nd Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron boom operator. He is deployed from the 93rd Air Refueling Squadron at Fairchild Air Force Base, Wash. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Hank Hoegen)

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Staff Sgt. Aaron Tessmann, 22nd Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron boom operator, ties down a spare fuel nozzle for the boom of a KC-135 Stratotanker deployed to the Transit Center at Manas, Kyrgyzstan, Aug. 27, 2011. Tessman is deployed from the 93rd Air Refueling Squadron at Fairchild Air Force Base, Wash. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Hank Hoegen)

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Staff Sgt. Aaron Tessmann, 22nd Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron boom operator, looks out the boom window for approaching aircraft as he flies over Afghanistan Aug. 27, 2011. Tessman is deployed to the Transit Center at Manas, Kyrgyzstan, from the 93rd Air Refueling Squadron at Fairchild Air Force Base, Wash. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Hank Hoegen)

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An F/A-18 Super Hornet assigned to the USS George H.W. Bush, approaches the fuel boom of a KC-135 Stratotanker over Afghanistan Aug. 27, 2011. The KC-135 Stratotanker is assigned to the 22nd Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron at the Transit Center at Manas, Kyrgyzstan. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Hank Hoegen)

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An F/A-18 Super Hornet assigned to the USS George H.W. Bush, is refueled by a KC-135 Stratotanker over Afghanistan Aug 27, 2011. The KC-135 Stratotanker is assigned to the 22nd Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron at the Transit Center at Manas, Kyrgyzstan. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Hank Hoegen)

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Staff Sgt. Aaron Tessmann, 22nd Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron boom operator, walks away from a KC-135 Stratotanker after a refueling mission over Afghanistan Aug. 27, 2011. Tessman is deployed to the Transit Center at Manas, Kyrgyzstan, from the 93rd Air Refueling Squadron at Fairchild Air Force Base, Wash. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Hank Hoegen)

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Staff Sgt. Aaron Tessmann stows safety gear as part of his pre-flight checks on a KC-135 Stratotanker stationed at the Transit Center at Manas, Kyrgyzstan, Aug. 27, 2011. Tessman is a 22nd Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron boom operator. He is deployed from the 93rd Air Refueling Squadron at Fairchild Air Force Base, Wash. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Hank Hoegen)

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Photo Essay: Life of a boomer

Published Aug. 30, 2011