Senior Airman Douglas Martin marshals a KC-10 Extender from its parking space in order to launch for a mission March 27 at a base in Southwest Asia. Providing 6.5 million pounds of jet fuel weekly, the KC-10 and the Airmen of the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing who support it give global reach to U.S. and coalition aircraft supporting operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. Airman Martin is a 380th Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron crew chief. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Levi Riendeau)
SOUTHWEST ASIA (AFPN) -- Providing 1 million gallons of jet fuel weekly, the KC-10 Extender and the Airmen of the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing who support it give global reach to U.S. and coalition aircraft supporting operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom.
"The common theory on tankers is that we are a force multiplier; we make one aircraft the equivalent of two," said Lt. Col. Tim White, the 908th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron commander.
"But, I would also argue we're a force magnifier," he said. "We multiply the aircraft effect, true, but we make that fighter faster with more burner time and quicker turns back into the fight. We make that bomber more agile as it doesn't have to be fully laden with fuel because we're right there. And we make the airlifter quicker on the ground as it doesn't need to be completely filled, allowing us to refuel it en-route to the next destination."
The Airmen of the 908th EARS provide a significant amount of the fuel to combat aircraft in the area of responsibility, said Master Sgt. Daniel Rando, 908th EARS superintendent and boom operator. Without fuel in the air, the coalition fighter and bomber flight times would be greatly reduced, leaving ground forces vulnerable to enemy attack. With air refueling, an aircraft can theoretically stay airborne indefinitely.
Several specialties, from boom operators, maintainers, fuels specialists, pilots, and navigators, support the KC-10 and its mission. They are aware how significant their efforts are to the fight.
"The most rewarding aspect for me is knowing that I'm a critical part of a huge mission that saves coalition troops' lives," said Tech. Sgt. Brent Rouse, a 380th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron fuels mobile distribution. "Knowing the fuel I give to the KC-10s is then passed directly to the fighters and bombers that put bombs where they need to go to destroy the enemy is a great privilege."
Combined, the capacity of the KC-10's six tanks carry more than 55,000 gallons of fuel -- almost twice as much as the KC-135 Stratotanker. Using either an advanced aerial refueling boom, or a hose and drogue centerline refueling system, the KC-10 can refuel a wide variety of U.S. and allied military aircraft 2,500 nautical miles away and return to home base within the same mission.
"It's an honor to be part of this heritage and part of the team of men and women who, realizing their responsibilities over their rights, ensure the outstanding mission success rate of the KC-10," said Senior Airman Douglas Martin, a 380th Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron crew chief.
At the forefront of every Airman's mind is winning the GWOT.
"The diverse capability of the KC-10 allows us to encounter something different every day," said Capt. Sarah Kaiser, a 908th EARS KC-10 pilot. "Bottom line, the fuel we provide from thousands of feet in the air over Iraq and Afghanistan has a direct impact all the way to the troops on the ground."