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March reservists refuel aircraft over Turkey

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman David K. Flaherty
  • 452 AMW/PA
MARCH AIR RESERVE BASE, Calif --  KC-135 air refueling crews and support people from here went to Incirlik Air Base, Turkey, in August in support Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom.

Aircrews from the 336th Air Refueling Squadron and aircraft maintainers from the 452nd Maintenance Group formed the air refueling aviation package. Reservists from other parts of Air Force Reserve Command's 452nd Air Mobility Wing assisted them in their mission.

"We directly support the war fighter on the ground," said Lt. Col. Mary E. Aldrian, 336th ARS commander. "By providing air refueling to cargo aircraft that are flying supplies and personnel into the area of responsibility, we allow cargo planes to get to locations without the extra stop for fuel."

About 70 Airmen from the 452nd MXG deployed as part of the contingent.

"[They] did an outstanding job of ensuring our tankers were ready to go," said Col. Cam LeBlanc, 452nd MXG commander. "Our maintainers did a great job launching our jets, with a maintenance departure reliability rate over 95 percent, considering our supply kit with the Block 40 unique parts did not get there until mid rotation."

March ARB was tasked with 38 days of a 120-day Air and Space Expeditionary Force deployment. The March Airmen split the 38 days in half to perform two 19-day deployments.

During August, the 336th ARS helped fuel more than 60 aircraft and off-loaded more than four million pounds of fuel in the airspace above Turkey.

In addition to saving time, air refueling can help save lives by keeping people out of harm's way. Since ground refueling makes it necessary to truck fuel into hazardous locations, additional people are put at risk on the ground, said Colonel Aldrian. Air refueling enhances the Air Force's capability to accomplish its mission of global reach.

Tech. Sgt. Erin S. Brotsch, a 336th ARS in-flight refueler, just returned home from Turkey in early September. A former pharmacist technician, Sergeant Brotsch said she cross-trained into in-flight refueling so she could see the world. Since becoming an in-flight refueler, Sergeant Brotsch has deployed several times, making this her second deployment to Turkey.

"For the mission, we were making sure the planes got to where they were going," said Sergeant Brotsch. "Whenever you log combat support time, it feels good. I'm looking forward to our next deployment and I'll be happy to go again."  (Air Force Reserve Command News Service)