Fairchild Air Force Base demonstrates rapid generation capabilities during Royal Flush

An Airman assigned to the 92nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron marshals a KC-135 Stratotanker from is staging position during exercise Royal Flush at Fairchild Air Force Base, Washington, April 30, 2024. Due to the increased operations tempo during Royal Flush, marshals played a critical role in ensuring aircraft moved quickly and safely throughout the airfield by monitoring for obstacles such as equipment, personnel and other aircraft. Royal Flush was a two-part Air Mobility Command-directed readiness exercise that evaluated the ability to rapidly respond and execute mobility fundamentals and non-standard techniques to provide global mobility at a moment’s notice. In a 72-hour period, Fairchild AFB launched 44 KC-135 sorties. This exercise represents a shift from day-to-day aerial refueling missions and planned deployments, to a time when forces could be required to launch all available assets and personnel within days’ notice. As the world’s largest tanker fleet, Team Fairchild would be among the first units to respond to any global contingency. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Megan Delaine)