Cryo Techs: Providing the breath of life

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Taj Copeland, 455th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron fuels distribution supervisor, moves a liquid oxygen cart at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan Aug. 5, 2014. Airmen with the cryogenics shop provide sustainable air for aircrew members to breathe at high altitudes. Copeland is deployed from Nellis Air Force Base, Nev. and a native of Tampa, Fla. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Evelyn Chavez/Released)

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Cryo Techs: Providing the breath of life

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Taj Copeland, 455th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron fuels distribution supervisor, pushes a liquid oxygen cart for refilling at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan Aug. 5, 2014. The cryogenics technicians support 6,000 aircraft missions and provide more than 4,000 gallons of liquid oxygen per month. Copeland is deployed from Nellis Air Force Base, Nev. and a native of Tampa, Fla. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Evelyn Chavez/Released)

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Cryo Techs: Providing the breath of life

(From left) U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Taj Copeland, 455th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness squadron, and Staff Sgt. James Brumbaugh, 455 ELRS fuels cryogenics non-commisioned officer in-charge, refill liquid oxygen carts or LOX for aircraft at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan Sept. 4, 2014. The cryogenics flight is responsible for providing more than 4,000 gallons of liquid oxygen per month to aircraft. Brumbaugh is deployed from Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz. and a native of Clarkrange, Tenn. Copeland is deployed from Nellis Air Force Base, Nev. and a native of Tampa, Fla. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Evelyn Chavez/Released)

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Cryo Techs: Providing the breath of life

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Taj Copeland, 455th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron fuels distribution supervisor, adjusts protective gear before refilling liquid oxygen carts at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan Aug. 5, 2014. Cryogenics Airmen provide sustainable air for aircrew to breathe at high altitudes. Copeland is deployed from Nellis Air Force Base, Nev. and a native of Tampa, Fla. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Evelyn Chavez/Released)

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Cryo Techs: Providing the breath of life

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Taj Copeland, 455th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron fuels distribution supervisor, adjusts his face shield before refilling liquid oxygen carts at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan Aug. 5, 2014. The cryogenics flight is responsible for providing more than 4,000 gallons of liquid oxygen per month to aircraft. Copeland is deployed from Nellis Air Force Base, Nev. and a native of Tampa, Fla. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Evelyn Chavez/Released)

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Cryo Techs: Providing the breath of life

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Taj Copeland, 455th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron fuels distribution supervisor, dons protective gear before refilling liquid oxygen carts at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan Aug. 5, 2014. The cryogenics technicians support 6,000 aircraft missions and provide more than 4,000 gallons of liquid oxygen per month. Copeland is deployed from Nellis Air Force Base, Nev. and a native of Tampa, Fla. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Evelyn Chavez/Released)

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Cryo Techs: Providing the breath of life

(From left) U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. James Brumbaugh, 455th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron fuels cryogenics non-commisioned officer in-charge, and Staff Sgt. Taj Copeland 455 ELRS fuels distribution supervisor, move a liquid oxygen cart during a cryogenic refill at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan Aug. 5, 2014. The cryogenics flight is responsible for providing more than 4,000 gallons of liquid oxygen per month to aircraft. Brumbaugh is deployed from Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz. and a native of Clarkrange, Tenn. Copeland is deployed from Nellis Air Force Base, Nev. and a native of Tampa, Fla. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Evelyn Chavez/Released)

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Cryo Techs: Providing the breath of life

A U.S. Air Force Airman from the 455th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron collects a liquid oxygen sample at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan Sept. 5, 2014. Cryogenic technicians work with extremely cold substances that boil at subzero temperatures, then evaporate into breathable air. The cryogenics technicians support 6,000 aircraft missions and provide more than 4,000 gallons of liquid oxygen per month. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Evelyn Chavez/Released)

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Cryo Techs: Providing the breath of life

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. James Brumbaugh, 455th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron fuels cryogenics non-commisioned officer in-charge, refills a liquid oxygen cart at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan Aug. 5, 2014. The cryogenics technicians support 6,000 aircraft missions and provide more than 4,000 gallons of liquid oxygen per month. Brumbaugh is deployed from Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz. and a native of Clarkrange, Tenn. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Evelyn Chavez/Released)

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Cryo Techs: Providing the breath of life

A U.S. Air Force Airman from the 455th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron refills liquid oxygen carts at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan Sept. 5, 2014. Cryogenic technicians work with extremely cold substances that boil at subzero temperatures then evaporate into breathable air. The cryogenics technicians support 6,000 aircraft missions and issue more than 4,000 gallons of liquid oxygen per month. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Evelyn Chavez/Released)

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Cryo Techs: Providing the breath of life

Liquid oxygen samples sit on a shelf at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan Aug. 5, 2014. Cryogenic technicians test liquid oxygen to ensure its purity. Cryogenics Airmen support 6,000 aircraft missions and provide more than 4,000 gallons of liquid oxygen per month. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Evelyn Chavez/Released)

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Cryo Techs: Providing the breath of life

Published Sept. 11, 2014
By Staff Sgt. Evelyn Chavez
455th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan -- To help sustain the flying mission at one of the busiest airfields in Afghanistan, cryogenic technicians from the 455th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron provide sustainable air for aircrews to breathe at high altitudes. Cryogenic technicians work with extremely cold substances such as liquid oxygen that boils at subzero temperatures then evaporates into breathable air. The shop here supports 6,000 aircraft missions and provides more than 4,000 gallons of liquid oxygen per month.