Pointing to a single accomplishment among many is easy for Leist, who was charged with building the organization from scratch. “Five weeks after the activation ceremony, we had a crew in the desert flying in the Area of Responsibility,” said Leist. “Our goal and our purpose is to support the combatant commander.” Not only has our reputation for excellence increased, Hutchinson said, we have also been able to increase our support to the combatant commander by increasing our presence in the AOR. Capt. Russell Miller and Master Sgt. Patrick Ingram from the 64th ARS and Capt. Matthew Valentino from the 157th ARW are deployed as part of the 340th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron in the Middle East. They are flying combat air refueling operations in support of Operation New Dawn and Operation Enduring Freedom, including close air support, convoy escort, and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance. This is the fourth joint aircrew to deploy since the 64th ARS was activated. “Pease has been focused on making sure we obtain the highest level of mobility readiness with the greatest ability to support the war fighter since day one,” said Lt. Col. Ryan Samuelson, director of operations, 64th ARS. “We have seen an increase in aircraft utilization rates – while we fly more
time, our aircraft mission capable rates have remained among the highest in the ANG,” said Hutchinson. “The results we have seen over the past year are only achievable with solid teamwork.” With an increased reliance on the reserve component, a result of a higher operation tempo as well as a reduced
budget demanding greater efficiency in today’s Air Force, integrated capabilities of the total force are vital to winning America’s fight. “Taking the best the Air National Guard has to offer and integrating the strengths of the active duty will ensure the United States Air Force remains the preeminent Air Force in the world,” said Hutchinson. O
An F-15 Str a KC-135 ike Eagle is refu e S combine tratotanker from led over the skie d s part of th aircrew from Pe the 340th Expedit of Afghanistan in a e io Wing. Th 22nd Operation se Air National G nary Air Refueli support of Ope ra s n e u assigned partnership wa Group, McConn ard Base, N.H., g Squadron. The tion Enduring Fre ell AFB, s formed where th tanker w edom by to an Air b a e u as National s t 6 Guard un part of the Acti is operationally 4th Air Refuelin flown by a ve g a it and w ork hand Associate con ssigned to the 1 Squadron is a ce 57 -in-hand with Gua pt where active th Air Refueling rdsmen. duty Airm Photo by en are Master Sgt. Adria
n Cadiz
A U.S. Air Force aircrew from the 340th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron prepares a KC-135 Stratotanker for a mission in support of Operation New Dawn in Southwest Asia. Photo by Staff Sgt. Eric Harris Spring 2011 / New Hampshire National Guard Magazine
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