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  • SOUTHWEST ASIA -- A vehicle sits with one wheel in a vehicle inspection pit after an accident here. A minor vehicle accident can result in seven to 12 hours of additional work for 380th Air Expeditionary Wing personnel and a major accident can add 16 hours to several days of work. (U.S. Air Force photo by 1st Lt. Michael Frye) (Released)

    Vehicle accident equals mission compromise

    Getting into a vehicle accident is never fun, but in a deployed environment, it can create increased costs and cause a loss of hours for the Air Force as well as personal difficulties for the driver. Tech Sgt. Jeremy Ketchum, the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing ground safety manager, says there are three tips that can prevent almost all vehicle

  • The “Blue Knights” Arrive in the AOR

    The 380th Air Expeditionary Wing welcomed the 963rd Expeditionary Airborne Air Control Squadron to the fight on Jan. 9, 2009. The "Blue Knights" are commanded by Lt. Col. Robert M. Haines and their home station is Tinker Air Force Base, Okla. The men and women of the 963rd fly aboard and support the E-3 Sentry. Based on a Boeing 707-320B airframe,
  • SOUTHWEST ASIA -- Master Sgt. Jose Cerna (left) and Tech. Sgt. Jeffery Montbriand discuss forklift placement of a frequency converter and uninterrupted power source in Hangar 4 here Jan. 10. Sergeant Montbriand, the electrical noncommissioned officer in charge of the operations flight, and Sergeant Cerna, the superintendent of the operations flight, are both with the 380th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron. Although the electrical flight does not usually provide forklift support, both NCOs are qualified forklift drivers allowing them the fexibility to adapt to the needs of the deployed environment. Sergeant Montbriand is a Coventry, Conn., native. Sergeant Cerna hails from Del Rio, Texas. Both are deployed from Andrews Air Force Base, Md. (US Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Denise Johnson) (released)

    Engineers provide lift at deployed base

  • SOUTHWEST ASIA -- Major Thomas Ryan, 99th Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron, mission pilot, is suited up to be pressurized by Staff Sgt. Mark Reith and Senior Airman David Sivixay, 99th Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron, Physiological Support Division, prior to his 2000 hour flight at the helm of a U-2 Dragonlady, Jan. 9. Maj. Ryan is the 25th pilot to reach the 2000 hour milestone. All three members are from the 9th Reconnaissance Squadron, Beale AFB, Calif. Maj. Ryan is from Sneads Ferry, N.C., Sergeant Reith is from Flint, Mich. And Airman Sivixay is from San Diego, Calif. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Brian J. Ellis)(Released)

    U-2 pilot joins elite

    Maj. Thomas Ryan of the 99th Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron here has just reached 2,000 flying hours, a rare milestone in the career of a U-2 Dragon Lady pilot. The 99th ERS mission pilot is only the 25th U-2 pilot in history to reach that mark, with more than 1,000 of those hours in direct support of combat operations. Major Ryan returned
  • SOUTHWEST ASIA -- Master Sgt. Clifford Hughes from the 908th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron uses a fuel vectoring chart here Jan. 3. The chart is used to show what the aircraft center of gravity is with the fuel load. This is important so they can monitor the center of gravity as the fuel is being offloaded in flight. Sergeant Hughes has flown over 300 combat missions, in 7 years of deploying. He has deployed nearly 800 days. Six of the deployments were with the MH-53M Pavelow and three on the KC-10 A Extender. Sergeant Hughes is deployed from the 2nd ARS McGuire Air Force Base, N.J., his hometown is Goshen, Ohio. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Christopher A. Campbell) (released)

    300 Combat Missions

  • SOUTHWEST ASIA - Airmen and Soldiers gather at the Patriot Battery motor pool to go over ground plans Jan. 3 in preparation for the arrival of about 200 Soldiers in the coming weeks. (Left to right) The 380th Expeditionary Mission Support Group deputy commander, Lt. Col. Fred Thaden; Army 1st Lt. Erik Mason, 5-52 Air Defense Artillery Battalion Signal Officer; 1st Lt. Shawn McDanal and Capt. Raymond Orr, both project officers with the 380th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron, discuss site layout plans over the hood of an Army Patriot Battery communications vehicle. The advance team of Soldiers, in addition to the arrival of the main body, will comprise the first Patriot Battery at the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing. The Soldiers will be incorporated into the 380th AEW's mission in support of Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom and Joint Task Force Horn of Africa. Colonel Thaden hails from Colorado Springs, Colo. He is deployed from Hill Air Force Base, Utah, where his wife and children reside. Lieutenant Mason is deployed from Fort Bliss, Texas; he calls Olean, N.Y., home. Lieutenant McDanal, deployed from Andrews AFB, Md., hails from Conifer, Colo. Captain Orr, a Downingtown, Pa., native, recently returned to his home station of Moron Air Base, Spain. Captain Orr was the lead engineer for the Army bed-down prior to handing the reins over to new arrival, Lieutenant McDanal. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Denise Johnson) (released)

    Joint enablers: Airmen, Soldiers prep for Patriot's debut at Southwest Asia base

    It can take an Army to move a mountain; but who gets the Army set up to move the mountain? With the pending arrival of hundreds of Soldiers, Airmen of the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing are stepping up and moving earth to ensure the transition is as seamless as possible. More than 200 Soldiers from Fort Bliss, Texas, will begin arriving over the
  • SOUTHWEST ASIA -- Flight Lt. Troy Roempke with the 965th Expeditionary Airborne Air Control Squadron performs a checkout of his communications system on an E-3 sentry here Dec. 24. He was preparing to fly his final mission at the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing before heading home to Australia. He has been with the 965th out of Tinker Air Force Base, Okla. for three years with the last four months in a deployed location gaining valuable frontline experience. While deployed with the 965th Flight Lieutenant Roempke has flown 20 missions in the area of responsibility in support of Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Christopher A. Campbell) (released)

    Final flight for Australians with deployed U.S. AWACS

  • SOUTHWEST ASIA -- Airman 1st Class Stuart Brennan from the 380th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron checks his gauges while he uses a "dead man" to refuel a KC-10 Extender here. This is a device that the fuels Airmen use to ensure there is a constant flow maintained during refueling. Airman Brennan has to grip the "dead man" and release it within 90 seconds continually throughout the refueling process. The average fuel transfer rate is 600 gallons per minute. Airman Brennan is deployed from the 20th LRS, Shaw Air Force Base, S.C., his hometown is Westerly, R.I. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Christopher A. Campbell) (released)

    Refueling Air Refuelers

  • SOUTHWEST ASIA -- Members of the 380th Air Expeditionary wing sing Christmas carols at the Oasis Dining Facility here Dec. 24. The 380th celebrated the holidays with a variety of events throughout the week of Christmas. Members of the Seven Sands Chapel spread holiday cheer with their voices traveling around the base providing a little taste of home by singing various carols. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Christopher A. Campbell) (released)

    Deployed make the most of holiday season

    Nearly 2,000 Airmen, Soldiers and civilians from the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing made the most of their holiday season in the Area of Operations by participating in a variety of festive events here, Dec. 21 through 25. Events included an array of activities including a holiday door-decorating contest, caroling, a Jingle Bell 5k Fun Run, a parade,
  • SOUTHWEST ASIA -- Staff Sgt. Justin VanDusen from the 380th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron drags a 5-inch diameter, 50-foot hose over 100 feet during the 380th Firefighter Challenge held Dec. 20 here. The Firefighter Challenge gave Airmen the opportunity to don firefighter gear and be timed while performing various physical tasks. Sergeant VanDusen is deployed from the 355th SFS, Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., his hometown is Coldwater, Mich. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Christopher A. Campbell)(released)

    Deployed Airmen get glimpse of firefighters' lives

    More than 30 Airmen from the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing participated in a Firefighter Challenge here Dec. 20. The 380th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Fire and Emergency Services Flight hosted the challenge, which consisted of a series of obstacles related to firefighting training and operations. "We really wanted to give people an opportunity to
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