Preparing to leave

Staff Sgt. Luis Mejias, 15th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, inspects and washes the blades of a C-17 Globemaster III from Joint BAse Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii Jan. 9. Aircrews from the 535th AS dropped nine training pallets during a single day of training while on temporary assignment to Andersen Air Base, Guam. The aircrew then helped the 36th CRG with static line jump training. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Mike Meares)

Preparing to leave

Staff Sgt. Luis Mejias, 15th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, inspects and washes the blades of a C-17 Globemaster III from Joint BAse Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii Jan. 9. Aircrews from the 535th AS dropped nine training pallets during a single day of training while on temporary assignment to Andersen Air Base, Guam. The aircrew then helped the 36th CRG with static line jump training. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Mike Meares)

Airdrop under fire

Capts. Rob Greeson and Nate Padgett, 535th Airlift Squadron pilots, fly a C-17 toward a drop zone during the Mobility Air Forces Exercise Nov. 17. The 535th AS aircrew trained in unrestricted descent assault landings, air drop, combat offloads, air refueling, night vision goggle training, combat offloads, low levels, mountainous terrain, assault landings, threat responses and multiple ship formation training during a five day training trip to Washington Nov 12-17 in preperation for the Mobility Air Forces Exercise at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Mike Meares)

Airdrop under fire

A 535th Airlift Squadron airrcrew trained in unrestricted descent assault landings, air drop, combat offloads, air refueling, night vision goggle training, combat offloads, low levels, mountainous terrain, assault landings, threat responses and multiple ship formation training during a five day training trip to Washington Nov 12-17. The aircrew also participated in the Mobility Air Forces Exercise 10-B at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Mike Meares)

Airdrop under fire

A 535th Airlift Squadron C-17 Globemaster III aircrew enjoys a little breakfast prepared in the oven onboard during an airdrop training mission Nov. 18. The 535th AS aircrew trained in unrestricted descent assault landings, air drop, combat offloads, air refueling, night vision goggle training, combat offloads, low levels, mountainous terrain, assault landings, threat responses and multiple ship formation training during a five day training trip to Washington Nov 12-17 and participated in the Mobility Air Forces Exercise at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., Nov. 18. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Mike Meares)

Airdrop under fire

Capts. Rob Greeson and Nate Padgett, 535th Airlift Squadron pilots, fly a C-17 toward a drop zone during an airdrop training mission Nov. 18. The 535th AS aircrew trained in unrestricted descent assault landings, air drop, combat offloads, air refueling, night vision goggle training, combat offloads, low levels, mountainous terrain, assault landings, threat responses and multiple ship formation training during a five day training trip to Washington Nov 12-17 and participated in the Mobility Air Forces Exercise at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., Nov. 18. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Mike Meares)

535th Airlift Squadron supports 507th Airborne School

Paratroopers from the 507th Airborne School fall from the sky over Ft. Benning, Ga. after jumping out of a C-17 Globemaster from the 535th Airlift Squadron at Joint Base Pearl Harbor Hickam, Hi. Oct. 14. A C-17 from the 15th Wing made the long journey from Hawaii to Ft. Benning to support the student jump requirements of the 507th AS. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Nathan Allen)

535th Airlift Squadron supports 507th Airborne School

Capt. Mark Fischer, 535th Airlift Squadron pilot from Joint Base Pearl Harbor Hickam, surveys the landscape during a turn Oct. 11 at Fort Benning, Ga. A C-17 Globemaster III from the 15th Wing made the long journey from Hawaii to Fort Benning to support the student jump requirements of the 507th Airborne School. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Nathan Allen)

Getting ready to go

JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii -- Airmen work to load a C-17 Globemaster III during Beverly Kahuna 2010-F, an Initial Response Readiness Exercise Oct. 20-21. During the exercise, more than 200 Airmen were processed through a deployment line, eight C-17 missions were generated and 140 short tons of cargo was moved while practicing the "deployment machine." This exercise concentrated on the basic "blocking and tackling" of getting cargo and people downrange. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Mike Meares)

Getting ready to go

JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii -- Airmen work to load a C-17 Globemaster III during Beverly Kahuna 2010-F, an Initial Response Readiness Exercise Oct. 20-21. During the exercise, more than 200 Airmen were processed through a deployment line, eight C-17 missions were generated and 140 short tons of cargo was moved while practicing the "deployment machine." This exercise concentrated on the basic "blocking and tackling" of getting cargo and people downrange. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Mike Meares)

Getting ready to go

JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii -- Staff Sgt. Paul Trowbridge, 535th Airlift Squadron loadmaster, supervisors the loading of a C-17 Globemaster III during Beverly Kahuna 2010-F, an Initial Response Readiness Exercise Oct. 20-21. During the exercise, more than 200 Airmen were processed through a deployment line, eight C-17 missions were generated and 140 short tons of cargo was moved while practicing the "deployment machine." This exercise concentrated on the basic "blocking and tackling" of getting cargo and people downrange. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Mike Meares)

Getting ready to go

JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii -- Lt. Col. George Fritts, 15th Wing inspector general, discusses communicates with his evaluation team while observing the loading of a C-17 Globemaster III Oct. 21 during Beverly Kahuna 2010-F, an Initial Response Readiness Exercise. During the exercise, more than 200 Airmen were processed through a deployment line, eight C-17 missions were generated and 140 short tons of cargo was moved while practicing the "deployment machine." This exercise concentrated on the basic "blocking and tackling" of getting cargo and people downrange. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Mike Meares)