Ready for take-off

ISTRES, France -- A U.S. Air Force Airman from the 621st Contingency Response Wing looks on as a U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster III cargo aircraft taxis onto a loading ramp here Jan. 22, 2013. The U.S. pledged support to the French military for their operations in Mali, and provided C-17s and Airmen for logistical support. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Nathanael Callon) (Released)

Altus AFB assists AMC, Fort Sill to deploy defense systems in support of NATO

ALTUS AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. – Soldiers from the 31st Air Defense Artillery Army Brigade, Fort Sill, Okla., board a 167th Airlift Wing, Martinsburg, W. Va. C-5 Galaxy on the Altus AFB flight line, Jan. 4, 2013. The soldiers were deployed along with Patriot-air-defense systems to de-escalate the situation along the Turkey-Syrian border. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Levin Boland / Released)

Altus AFB assists AMC, Fort Sill to deploy defense systems in support of NATO

ALTUS AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. – Senior Master Sgt. Mark Snyder, 167th Airlift Wing, Martinsburg, W. Va. loadmaster assists Sgt. Daniel Hanke, Fort Sill Unit Movement Office augmentee, chain down an M983 Truck inside a 167th AW C-5 Galaxy on the Altus AFB flight line, Jan. 4, 2013. Members of the 97th Air Mobility Wing, Kentucky Air Guard Contingency Response Group, 31st Air Defense Artillery Army Brigade, Fort Sill, Okla. and 167th AW, joined forces to deploy batteries of Patriot-air-defense systems, more than two million pounds of equipment and about 300 personnel from 3-2 Air Defense Artillery Battalion to Turkey in support of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Levin Boland/ Released)

Altus AFB assists AMC, Fort Sill to deploy defense systems in support of NATO

ALTUS AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. – Members of the 97th Air Mobility Wing, Kentucky Air Guard Contingency Response Group, 31st Air Defense Artillery Army Brigade, Fort Sill, Okla. and 167th Airlift Wing, Martinsburg, W. Va., unload an M984 Wrecker from a 167th AW C-5 Galaxy on the Altus AFB flight line, Jan. 4, 2013. The units joined forces to deploy batteries of Patriot-air-defense systems, more than two million pounds of equipment and about 300 personnel from 3-2 Air Defense Artillery Battalion to Turkey in support of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Levin Boland / Released)

Securing Cargo

Senior Airman Andrew Wagner, 817th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron loadmaster, secures cargo on a C-17 Globemaster III, Transit Center at Manas, Kyrgyzstan, Nov. 19, 2012. Wagner is responisible for securing all cargo prior to departure and ensuring it?s safe delivery to forward bases in Southwest Asia. He is deployed from McCord Air Force Base, Wash. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Stephanie Rubi)

Battling the Elements

Staff Sgt. Eric Booker, 728th Air Mobilty Squadron ? Operating Location Alpha crew chief, speaks with aircrew members of a C-17 Globemaster III at Transit Center at Manas, Kyrgyzstan, Nov. 19, 2012. Effective communication between aircrew members can keep weather challenges, such as snow and rain, from effecting the mission at hand. Booker is deployed from Anderson Air Force Base, Guam and is native of Griffin, Ga. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Stephanie Rubi)