KC-10s deliver fuel enabling rapid air support in Southwest Asia

Published Oct. 20, 2009
By Senior Airman Stephen Linch
380th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs

SOUTHWEST ASIA -- Think of this number: 1.2 million. That's the number of pounds of fuel the KC-10s from the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing deliver daily to aircraft that provide air support in Afghanistan skies.

This means that when coalition forces need air support, aircraft such as the A-10 Thunder Bolt II, B-1B Lancer, F-15E Strike Eagle, F-16 Fighting Falcon and U.S. Navy F-18 Hornets are in the air and ready to respond, instead of on the ground -- thanks to tankers fueling the fight.

That was the case Oct. 13 when 380th AEW KC-10s delivered 180,000 gallons of fuel to aircraft in Afghanistan. The aircraft refueled by 908th tankers assisted in ten different troops-in-contact events, including three shows-of-force to deter enemy engagement and two strikes in direct support of coalition forces as they fought insurgents in Afghanistan.

On that day, one of the KC-10s refueled several F-18s and A-10s, setting a record for supporting the most troops-in-contact events during a single, combat sortie.

Speaking of the importance of refueling, Lt. Col. Michael Rickard, 908th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron commander said KC-10s give fighters and bombers fuel that allows them to stay-out longer so they can react quickly to different troops in contact situations.

"We give them that capability," the 39 year-old Detroit native added.

With the highest deployment rate in Air Mobility Command, it is obvious KC-10 crews are ensuring they deliver that capability.

KC-10 crews deploy twice a year on average, and have very little downtime when they are deployed.

"These guys come out here to fly," said Colonel Rickard, who is on his fifth deployment.

"They are always in some kind of a duty status -- flying, crew rest, or on alert."

Having crews on alert adds an important capability -- the ability to surge.

"We will surge," Colonel Rickard added. Alert crews are always standing by to make sure the fight is fueled.

Noting that KC-10 crews are not the only ones ensuring the 908th EARS lives up to its motto of "fueling the fight," Colonel Rickard said, "We couldn't do what we do without the maintenance team out here. They work long hours in the heat to make sure we have mission ready jets to fly."

The 908th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron flies KC-10 Extenders in support of Operations Enduring Freedom, Operations Iraqi Freedom, and Combined Joint Task Force Horn of Africa.

The 908th EARS is one of 12 squadrons assigned to the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing.

The 380th AEW provides intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, and aerial refueling in support of Operations Enduring Freedom, Operations Iraqi Freedom, and Combined Joint Task Force Horn of Africa.