Fifteen members of the 168th Wing left Southwest Asia temperatures that hovered in the high 70s, and came home to interior Alaska temperatures in the high teens. In spite of the cold temperatures, waiting for these Airmen were the open arms of warm, bundled up kids and spouses, friends and co-workers.
After spending anywhere from 60 to 120 days in Southwest Asia, these KC-135R Stratotanker crews and maintainers were happy to see familiar faces and places as they exited the aircraft here on Eielson. The Airmen of the 168th Wing returned home after deploying in support of Operation Freedom's Sentinel, where they provided support to U.S. and coalition forces throughout the Southwest Asia area of responsibility.
During their time overseas, the crews and maintainers completed approximately 82 flying missions over the skies of Afghanistan and Southwest Asia, and maintained a 24/7 presence in the area of responsibility. The KC-135R Stratotanker is capable of carrying more than 83,000 pounds of cargo, and in addition to the refueling mission the unit was assigned to, the aircraft and its crews delivered passengers and cargo during the deployment.
Col. Torrence Saxe, commander of the 168th Wing, was one of the first people to greet the returning Airmen.
"I can't say it enough, how proud we are of the mission these folks accomplished while in theater," Saxe said. "They represent the best of who we are as a force, and who we are as Alaskan Airmen."
Most of these Airmen will have about two weeks of time off before coming back to work, time enough to get caught up on all that has happened since they left, time to get reacquainted with their families, and get caught up on hugs.
| Date Taken: | 03.04.2018 |
| Date Posted: | 03.07.2018 20:14 |
| Category: | B-Roll |
| Video ID: | 588041 |
| VIRIN: | 180304-F-DV655-0001 |
| Filename: | DOD_105372437 |
| Length: | 00:01:49 |
| Location: | EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE, AK, US |
| Downloads: | 11 |
| High-Res. Downloads: | 11 |
This work, 168th Wing Redeployment, by TSgt William A Keele, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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