340th EARS Det 1. Impacts mission while making history

U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Kevin Robinson, 340th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron Detachment 1 aircrew flight equipment technician cleans equpiment after a refueling mission at Mazar-i-Sharif Air field, July 24, 2014. Maintaining the equipment is for it to be clean, safely functional and up todate . (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Colin Cates)

340th EARS Det 1. Impacts mission while making history

A F-16 Falcon assigned to Bahgram Airfield approaches a KC-135 Stratotanker, assigned to the 340th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron Detachment 1 from Mazar-i-Sharif Airfield, fly in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, July 24, 2014. The General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon is a single-engine multirole fighter aircraft originally developed by General Dynamics for the United States Air Force (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Colin Cates)

340th EARS Det 1. Impacts mission while making history

U.S. Air Force Airman Cory Drummond, 340th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron Detachment 1 boom operator, controls the boom during a refueling mission, July 24, 2014. The boom operator’s responsibility is to safely and effectively refuel other airframes while connecting to the the boom in the air. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Colin Cates)

340th EARS Det 1. Impacts mission while making history

Published Aug. 1, 2014
By Senior Airman Colin Cates
379th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs

AL UDEID AIR BASE, Qatar -- U.S. Air Force Airmen from the 340th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron Detachment 1 are making history at Mazar-i-Sharif Airfield, Afghanistan, as the first forward deployed air refueling unit from Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar, to Afghanistan.

Det. 1, made up of approximately 120 Airmen, provides various supports services ranging from security forces, maintenance, logistics and more. All these services support a group of KC-135 Stratotankers, which have launched more than 400 missions, offloading 2.7 million gallons of fuel to thousands of receivers.

"As the first refueling squadron from Al Udeid to deploy to Mazar-i-Sharif Air field it has been a huge success saving the Air Force $28.3 million to date while still evolving with the every changing mission," said Lt. Col Andrew Martin, 340 EARS Det. 1, commander.

While providing a vital service to the mission, the men and women of 340th EARS, Det. 1, have also developed a strong bond and ability to focus on teamwork.

"It has been an experience, a growing experience," said Senior Airman Kevin Robinson, 340 EARS Det. 1 aircrew flight equipment technicians. "I have learned to tackle some challenges that I did not think I would have to face, but it has been a great opportunity and my fellow wingmen have been by my side the whole time."

With a limited amount of resources the Airmen of Det. 1 learned how to overcome and push forward while leaving an impressive impact on the mission they accomplish.

"We are facing different challenges every day but as a tight knit group we are overcoming them to provide an important mission to our brothers and sisters in arms, said Martin.

"Everyone here is in the same boat; everyone is missing family, friends and birthdays, holidays," said Senior Airman Cheyenne White," 340th EARS Det. 1 vehicle operator. "We are all thrown in this mix together, and I think it brings out the best in people, which is a recipe for mission success."