For the second time in as many years, the Nebraska Air National Guard’s Lincoln-based 155th Air Refueling Wing set a record for number of hours flown.
During fiscal year 2016, the 155th Air Refueling Wing’s eight aircraft and assembled flight crews accumulated a total of 6,665 hours in the air. That number is up from the previous year’s total of 5,211 hours and dwarfs 2014’s total of 2,502.
The unit, located at the Nebraska National Guard air base in Lincoln, Nebraska, flies the KC-135R Stratotanker, which is primarily tasked with aerial refueling but can also be used for transporting passengers and cargo.
According to Col. Bob Stevenson, 155th ARW commander, the increase in flying hours can be directly attributed to many of the unit’s aircraft being deployed to the U.S. Central Command and U.S. Pacific Command areas of responsibility. At any given point during the past year, up to three of the 155th ARW’s planes were deployed.
“Our Citizen Airmen have answered their nation’s call consistently and exceptionally,” Stevenson said. “Nebraska has always been operationally in the top third of the Air National Guard mission, so we are not unique in this effort, but near the top.”
“The Air National Guard brings incredible value to both the nation’s warfighting missions and the American taxpayer,” Stevenson said. “We have had a constant presence in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility while also increasing our presence in the U.S. Pacific Command area. Additionally, we continue to train in our nuclear readiness mission.”
To put the numbers into perspective, it would take a three-person crew flying an aircraft 24/7 approximately seven months straight to accomplish what the 155th ARW did in Fiscal Year 2016. The record number of flying hours is even more impressive considering a few of the 155th ARW’s aircraft underwent a multiple-week software and hardware upgrade, meaning those planes weren’t flying during the upgrade.
Although the gaudy flight numbers are impressive, the increased operations tempo does have a human cost.
Tech. Sgt. Bryan Schuka, a boom operator with the 173rd ARS, knows that human toll all too well. Schuka, a firefighter with the Omaha Fire Department, has spent the last decade as a boom operator, responsible for “flying” the KC-135R extendable refueling boom into other aircraft during air refueling missions. He said he’s seen flight hours more than double and deployment schedules continue to increase. As a husband with two daughters and a son all under 12-years-old, he’s been forced to miss multiple family events.
“It’s almost like living two lives,” Schuka said.
Balancing family, a civilian career and Air National Guard duties is definitely challenging, he said, adding that his family is mostly used to him being gone, although it’s never easy. The Omaha Fire Department has also been very supportive of his increased time away from work, he said.
“It’s kind of become the new normal,” Schuka said. “You kind of get used to it, but then again, in some ways you don’t get used to it.”
Stevenson said that impact is very real. “Our mission has an effect upon our Airmen’s lives and the lives of their families. Technical Sergeant Schuka talks of being gone. You can’t get those birthdays, holidays, soccer tournaments, ballet recitals back. But this is important work that is being done. Our aircraft are vital in providing air support and (Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance) support to those who are fighting ISIS.”
(Editor’s Note: The above article was republished from the Nebraska Military Department 2016 Annual Report.)