CAFB: Gateway to AOR

Senior Airmen Joshua Bounds, left, and Clinton Packwood, right, check in Airmen Feb. 7 in the 437th Aerial Port Squadron passenger terminal for a contracted aircraft that will take them to Southwest Asia in support of Operations Enduring and Iraqi Freedom from Charleston Air Force Base, S.C.. More than 800 Airmen from various installations throughout the Air Force have been coming to Charleston AFB since Dec. 22, 2008 to be deployed. The base is one of five aerial ports of embarkation that makes it more convenient for Airmen to deploy to the area of responsibility. Airmen Bounds and Packwood are passenger service representatives with the 437th APS. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Jennifer Arredondo)

CAFB: Gateway to AOR

Capt. Christopher Simmons and his wife, Tasha, wait together in the 437th Aerial Port Squadron passenger terminal at Charleston Air Force Base, S.C., Feb. 7 until it is time for him to board the aircraft that will take him to his deployed location. More than 800 Airmen from various installations throughout the Air Force have been coming to Charleston AFB since Dec. 22, 2008 to be deployed. The base is one of five aerial ports of embarkation that makes it more convenient for Airmen to deploy to the area of responsibility. Captain Simmons is with the 52nd Logistics Readiness Squadron, Spangdahlem AB, Germany. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Jennifer Arredondo)

Hanscom heroes welcomed home

Col. Russell Fellers stands in formation while students from the Hanscom Middle School hold signs to welcome the colonel and more than 45 Airmen home from deployments during the Heroes' Homecoming celebration Dec. 12 at Hanscom Air Force Base, Mass. (U.S. Air Force photo/Linda LaBonte Britt)

Hanscom heroes welcomed home

Lt. Col. Tyron Fisher hugs his daughter Tyra during the Heroes' Homecoming celebration Dec. 12 at Hanscom Air Force Base, Mass. The event officially welcomed home base Airmen who deployed over the past six months. Colonel Fisher returned from his deployment to Iraq one hour before the start of the ceremony. He is the 632nd Electronic Systems Squadron commander. (U.S. Air Force photo/Rick Berry)

Southern Command, AF South Leadership visit deployed troops

Lt. Gen. Glenn Spears, the U.S. Southern Command deputy commander, hands a gift basket to a local of Ajuterique, Honduras, with Maria Martinez, governor of Comayagua as part of the Holiday Tour to Latin America. (U.S. Air Force photo)

Southern Command, AF South Leadership visit deployed troops

Lt. Gen. Glenn Spears thanks Petty Officer Shane Ramos, a Coast Guard C-130 loadmaster, for his work Dec. 8 at Forward Operating Location Comalapa, El Salvador. General Spears is the the U.S. Southern Command deputy commander. (U.S. Air Force photo)

Home for the holidays

Technical Sgt. Justin Morrison presents a gift to his son, 4-year-old Micah Morrison, Dec. 6 at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev. Airmen with the 763rd Maintenance Squadron and 66th Rescue Squadron returned home after 3.5 months in Southwest Asia supporting the war on terrorism. Sergeant Morrison is the 763rd MXS Propulsions Flight assistant section chief. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Larry E. Reid Jr.)

Home for the holidays

Airman 1st Class Daniel Rodgers embraces his wife, Airman 1st Class Stephanie Rubi, Dec. 6 at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev. Airmen with the 763rd Maintenance Squadron and 66th Rescue Squadron returned home after 3.5 months in Southwest Asia supporting the war on terrorism. He is an HH-60 avionics specialist assigned to the 763rd MXS and she is a still photographic apprentice assigned to the 99th Air Base Wing (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Larry E. Reid Jr.)

Charleston Airmen welcome home warriors

Col. John Millander greets Lt. Col. Norman Czubaj as the 14th Airlift Squadron makes their way off the plane Sept. 3 after arriving to Charleston Air Force Base, S.C. The 14th AS Airmen returned after a four-month deployment to Southwest Asia. Colonel Millander is the 437th Airlift Wing commander and Colonel Czubaj is the 14th AS commander. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Cynthia Spalding)

Charleston Airmen welcome home warriors

Children await the arrival of their returning parents Sept. 3 at Charleston Air Force Base, S.C. Members of the 14th Airlift Squadron returned after a four-month deployment to Southwest Asia. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Cynthia Spalding)

Charleston Airmen deploy to support war on terrorism

Capt. James Salazar hugs his 20-month-old daughter, Elizabeth, prior to the 15th Airlift Squadron's departure Aug. 27 at Charleston Air Force Base, S.C. Captain Tarkowski is assigned to the 15th AS. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Timothy Taylor)

Charleston Airmen deploy to support war on terrorism

Fianc? Jessica McDonnell embraces Capt. Alexander Lammi prior to the 15th Airlift Squadron's departure Aug. 27 at Charleston Air Force Base, S.C. Members from the 15th AS are deploying to Southwest Asia as part of operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. Captain Lammi is a pilot with the 15th AS. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Timothy Taylor)

Arriving home!

Chief Master Sgt. Mike Will, with the 174th Fighter Wing at Hancock Field, N.Y., greets his family after returning home Aug. 5 from a deployment to Southwest Asia in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Jeremy M. Call)

Arriving home!

Staff Sgt. Preston Cox, with the 174th Fighter Wing at Hancock Field, N.Y., works his way through the processing line after returning from a deployment to Southwest Asia in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Jeremy M. Call)

Arriving home!

Airmen from the 174th Fighter Wing at Hancock Field, N.Y., move through the processing line after returning home Aug. 5 from a deployment to Southwest Asia in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Jeremy M. Call)

Arriving home!

Pilots with the 174th Fighter Wing at Hancock Field, N.Y., return home Aug. 5 from their final combat deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. The unit dispatched 14 F-16 Fighting Falcons to Iraq on June 10. This was the last deployment for the unit using the F-16s. They will begin transitioning to the MQ-9 Reaper this fall. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Jeremy M. Call)

Parting is such sweet sorrow

Staff Sgt. Jerry Simmons loads personal and mobility bags of deploying personnel July 22 at Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D. More than 200 Ellsworth AFB Airmen deployed in support of military operations being conducted in various locations worldwide. Sergeant Simmons is a 28th Civil Engineer Squadron electrical systems craftsman. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Marc I. Lane)

Parting is such sweet sorrow

Capt. Steven Fowler holds his 7-month-old daughter, Makenna, before deploying July 22 at Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D. Captain Fowler, a 34th Bomb Squadron weapons system operator, is deploying to Southwest Asia in support of operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Marc I. Lane)

Parting is such sweet sorrow

1st. Lt. William Jacks hugs his daughters Rachel (left) and Anna July 22 at Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D. Lieutenant Jacks, a 34th Bomb Squadron B-1B Lancer pilot, will be deployed to Southwest Asia in support of military operations being conducted in various locations worldwide. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Marc I. Lane)

Parting is such sweet sorrow

Senior Airman William Seaborne hugs his wife, Shaina, and 5-year-old daughter, Riley, July 22 at Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D. Airman Seaborne, a 28th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron hydraulic mechanic, will be deployed to Southwest Asia in support of Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Marc I. Lane)

AEF evolves to reflect dwell-ratios stressed career fields

This graphic represents the air and space expeditionary force deploy-to-dwell tempo. Called AEF Evolution, each career field will fall into a different category of deployment cycles. The deployment categories are called tempo bands. Air Force officials have created five tempo bands: A through E. Tempo Band A reflects the original AEF cycle of a 1:4 dwell ration based on 120-day deployments. Bands B through E are based on 179-day deployments. Tempo band B is a 1:4 dwell ratio -- or six months deployed 24 months home. Tempo band C is a 1:3 dwell, band D is a 1:2 dwell and band E, reserved for the most stressed career fields, is a 1:1 dwell, or six months out, six months in. (U.S. Air Force graphic)

Welcome home!

An Airman of the 823rd Security Forces Squadron lifts a loved one from the ground during a hug April 29 at Moody Air Force Base, Ga. Members of the 823rd SFS returned from a six-month deployment to Camp Bucca, Iraq. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Brittany Barker)

Welcome home!

An Airman from the 823rd Security Forces Squadron takes a photo of another squadron member during a homecoming ceremony April 29 at Moody Air Force Base, Ga. Members of the 823rd SFS recently returned from a six-month deployment at Camp Bucca, Iraq. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Gina Chiaverotti)

Welcome home!

An Airman from the 823rd Security Forces Squadron hugs a loved one after returning from a deployment April 29 at Moody Air Force Base, Ga. Members of the 823rd SFS recently returned from a six-month deployment to Iraq. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Gina Chiaverotti)