Guard, Manas crews exemplify total force integration

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Mitch Gettle
  • 376th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
MANAS AIR BASE, Kyrgyzstan (AFPN) --  The 141st Air Refueling Wing unit from the Washington Air National Guard rotated home this week after a successful two and a half week tour here.

Although their stay was short, the mission accomplishments speak for themselves, said Lt. Col. Michael Gaal, 22nd Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron commander here, who is deployed from Fairchild Air Force Base, Wash.

"The three crews from the 141st flew 31 sorties in 15 days with a 100 percent on-time launch rate," he said. "The crew commanded by Maj. Dawn Tallman, also holds the record for longest tanker sortie ever flown out of Manas at 13.7 hours."

As an example of total force integration, the 141st ARW unit seamlessly became part of the 22 EARS in mid-October.

"They came fully equipped to do a mission and were a bonus to our operations," said Colonel Gaal. "Their crew chiefs worked with our crew chiefs, their crews flew any mission and they completely integrated into our expeditionary operations. This effort is part of that step forward into total force integration and a great indication of how the Guard, Reserve and active duty can all work together."

The total force aspect of the mission here was not lost on the 141st ARW members. The 141st ARW is collocated with the 92nd Air Refueling Wing at Fairchild AFB and set to be part of a Base Realignment and Closure move that will make them the first Guard associate wing in Air Mobility Command.

"It was easy to work with the Fairchild and Grand Forks members at Manas because of the standardization of processes and checklists," said Master Sgt. Steve Tilford, 141st ARW boom operator. "This is really no different than back home, except in this environment you are doing what you train to do your whole life, and I wouldn't trade that for the world."

The key to the total force concept is doing things in a standardized manner, the exact same mission in a different place, whether the person is from the Guard, active duty or Reserve, said Lt. Col. Kevin Littlemore, 141 ARW pilot.

Performing that mission here, the 141st ARW unit supplied the warfighter in Afghanistan the much needed fuel to carry out the fight.

"The 141st fueled 132 coalition aircraft with 1.6 million pounds of fuel," said Colonel Gaal. "Out of the 31 sorties flown, 22 were impact event sorties."

An impact event sortie means that the refueled aircraft assisted ground troops by performing a show of force, supporting troops in contact or striking a target in Afghanistan.

"This trip gives me a great sense of satisfaction in helping in the OEF effort," said 1st Lt. Kristopher Yegge, 141st ARW pilot. "You join the Guard and you just wait for this opportunity to do your job."

The tanker refueling operation here is part of the 376th Air Expeditionary Wing's mission of moving fuel, people and cargo into Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.