Bagram 2015 Deployment

[ruderamronbo]

New year. New thread.

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[Asif]

USAF F-16C block 40 #88-0486 & #88-0466 departing Bagram

USAF F-16C block 40 #88-0466 from the 4th FS takes flight on April 30th, 2015 at Bagram Air Field. [USAF photo by TSgt. Joseph Swafford]

USAF F-16C block 40 #88-0486 from the 4th FS taxis to a runway on April 30th, 2015 at Bagram Air Field. The 'Fuujins' of the 4 FS provided decisive airpower to ground commanders in Afghanistan throughout their six month deployment, flying more than 8,000 hours in the F-16 in support of OEF and Freedom’s Sentinel. [USAF photo by SSgt. Whitney Amstutz]

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more photos and a video
https://www.facebook.com/13359228665707 ... =1&theater https://www.facebook.com/13359228665707 ... main_video

[Asif]

#88-0446

USAF F-16C block 40 #88-0446 assigned to the 555th EFS from Aviano AB lands at Bagram Air Field on May 13th, 2015. [USAF photo by TSgt. Joseph Swafford]

[Jon]

Looks like F-16C #89-2068 went off the runway on May 4th, 2015. Pilot is fine.

USAF F-16C block 40 #89-2068 during recovery after departing the runway. Airmen assigned to the 455th Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron take a break from working to replace a tire on an F-16 that departed the runway while landing at Bagram AB on May 4th, 2015. The 455th EAMXS maintainers were able to expeditiously recover the aircraft and return the runway to operational status; the pilot was uninjured while the F-16 only sustained minor damage in the mishap. [USAF photo by TSgt. Joseph Swafford]

Airmen assigned to the 455th Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron move F-16C #89-2068 that had departed the runway while landing at Bagram AB on May 4th, 2015. The 455th EAMXS maintainers were able to expeditiously recover the aircraft and return the runway to operational status; the pilot was uninjured while the F-16 only sustained minor damage in the mishap. [USAF photo by TSgt. Joseph Swafford]

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Great shot from below. https://www.facebook.com/13359228665707 ... =1&theater

[Asif]

‘1000s of Hands’ project highlights Vulture Airmen’s contributions
Story by Maj. Tony Wickman

BAGRAM AIR FIELD, Afghanistan - In an effort to highlight the contributions of 455th Air Expeditionary Wing Airmen who bring decisive airpower in support of NATO’s Resolute Support mission and Operation Freedom’s Sentinel, the wing is launching the “1000s of Hands” project.

Brig. Gen. Mark D. Kelly, 455th AEW commander, said every Airman serving at Bagram, Kandahar and Jalalabad is critical to the wing’s mission to generate and sustain airpower on the combat frontier of Afghanistan, and each story is important to tell.

“It takes thousands of hands of Airmen to generate decisive airpower in Afghanistan,” Kelly said. “Every Airman, regardless of specialty, is important to our mission. An Airman’s importance to our mission isn’t dictated by their proximity to the flightline, but rather by the duty they perform with a high level of precision and professionalism. They each have a story and it needs to be shared.”

Kelly said that the more than 1,600 Airmen in the wing are vital to feeding and fixing aircraft, or feeding and fixing the Airmen who fly and fix the aircraft.

"Afghanistan is still a dangerous place that requires us to deliver close air support, airlift, personnel recovery, aeromedical evacuation, and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance in one of the most challenging environments in the world,” Kelly said. “The ‘1000s of Hands’ project will show our team members who have a hand in delivering a blanket of steel, technology and courage to protect the force in the field and to support our Afghan partners."

For Chief Master Sgt. Jeffery Brown, 455th AEW command chief, the wing performs the critical mission of delivering decisive airpower, but it’s the Airmen who are vital.

“Although formal combat operations are finished, we still have our blood and treasure in the field executing either counter-insurgency or train, advise and assist missions,” Brown said. “These warriors still require the blanket of steel and technology our Air Force provides every day, and we provide that in Afghanistan. Our Airmen are combat airpower. Without these proud, professional warrior Airmen, we fail.”

Brown said that regardless of what duty an Airman performs day-to-day, everyone is essential to the fight.

“I truly wish we could get rid of the term ‘non'er’ in our Air Force. Every Airman contributes to the mission at whatever level they are in the kill chain; from the farthest removed to the operator putting warheads on foreheads and steel on target,” said the chief. “It takes thousands of hands executing their assigned mission to put one sortie into the air. Without those hands, our incredible airframes are just hunks of machinery that would sit and rot.”

From Brown’s perspective, every 455th AEW member should know how vital they are to the mission.

“The bottom line, we wouldn’t have an Airman over here in harm's way unless we needed them here ... period. We scrub our manning lists continuously to see where we can reduce vulnerabilities and risks. Our Airmen must understand they need to be ready to execute their duties at a moment's notice,” the chief said.

The chief stated that while duty at home station is important, in Afghanistan every Airman is a key contributor who takes on the additional role of being ready with a weapon to defend themselves, their fellow Airmen and the airfield.

“In this theater, relevancy is ratcheted up several notches as is team work. As our wing commander says, we get addicted to ratcheted-up relevancy, teamwork and adrenalin in this environment,” Brown said. “We’re cut to the bone when it comes to presidentially-mandated force management levels. In many cases, we have only one Airman filling a critical role. I could go on and on about how an Airman from any AFSC contributes to our mission. We’re all relevant to the mission of our Air Force.”

For the wing commander, every Airman should be proud of who they are, what they do, and how well they accomplish the mission.

“Whether you’re a pilot, maintainer, nurse, civil engineer, or comptroller, you’re a critical member of the 455th AEW team and our mission,” Kelly said. “What you do every day here on the combat frontier of Afghanistan is important for America, you do it better than anyone else, and you contribute to our being the world’s most respected air force.”

Moving forward, the “1000s of Hands” project will highlight a Vulture Airman weekly who contributes to the wing’s mission and priorities.

The 'OG' bird (#89-2137) also present on base.

Brig. Gen. Mark D. Kelly, 455th AEW commander, CMSgt. Jeffery Brown, 455th AEW command chief, and Airmen assigned to the 455th AEW pose for a photo beside F-16C block 40 #89-2137 from the 510 FS as part of the '1000s of Hands' project at Bagram Air Field on May 21st, 2015. The project highlights the contributions of 455th AEW Airmen who bring decisive airpower to support NATO's Resolute Support mission and Operation Freedom's Sentinel. [USAF photo by TSgt. Joseph Swafford]

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USAF F-16C block 40 #89-2023 assigned to the 555th FS lands at Bagram Airfield on May 31st, 2015. [USAF photo by TSgt. Joseph Swafford]

USAF F-16C block 40 #89-2049 from the 510th FS takes off at Bagram Air Field on May 31st, 2015. [USAF photo by TSgt. Joseph Swafford]

USAF F-16C block 40 #89-2096 assigned to the 555th FS takes off at Bagram Air Field on May 31st, 2015. [USAF photo by TSgt. Joseph Swafford]

USAF F-16C block 40s assigned to the 555th FS from Aviano AB taxi after landing at Bagram Air Field on May 31st, 2015. [USAF photo by TSgt. Joseph Swafford]

G3 Image not found

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USAF F-16C block 40 #88-0526 assigned to the 555th FS prepares to land at Bagram Air Field on June 3rd, 2015. The F-16 is deployed in support of Operation Freedom's Sentinel and NATO's Resolute Support mission. [USAF photo by TSgt. Joseph Swafford]

USAF F-16C block 40 #89-2039 assigned to the 555th FS prepares to land at Bagram Air Field on June 3rd, 2015. The F-16 is deployed in support of Operation Freedom's Sentinel and NATO's Resolute Support mission. [USAF photo by TSgt. Joseph Swafford]

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Video of the maintainers https://www.facebook.com/13359228665707 ... =2&theater

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One great shot from several https://www.facebook.com/13359228665707 ... =1&theater

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IYAAYAS!!

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set ... 075&type=3

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https://www.dvidshub.net/news/167100/10 ... YTQiqZTCC1

BAGRAM AIR FIELD, Afghanistan— Capt. Dakota Olsen, 555th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron, is an F-16 Fighting Falcon pilot who provides close air support and armed over watch for military personnel in Afghanistan.

Olsen flies various sorties and missions throughout the country on a daily basis, delivering airpower to ensure a safe and secure environment for personnel at BAF.

“We provide a distinct advantage to the guys outside the wire by having that armed over watch; we provide them with munitions when they need it. Overall we help them fight their fight and make sure they return home safely,” Olsen said. “At the end of the day, our biggest impact is to save lives and protect our troops and allies and support a stable Afghanistan.”

Olsen is part of the "1000s of Hands" of 455 AEW Airmen who are crucial to the wing’s mission to generate and sustain airpower on the combat frontier of Afghanistan’s NATO’s Resolute Support mission and Operation Freedom’s Sentinel. The "1000s of Hands" project highlights Vulture Airmen who have a hand in delivering a blanket of steel, technology and courage to protect the force in the field and support Afghan National Defense and Security Forces.

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U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Mark D. Kelly, 455th Air Expeditionary Wing commander, lands an F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft during his final flight as the 455th AEW Commander at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, June 28, 2015 The final flight is an aviation tradition in which aircrew members, upon completion of their last flight with the wing, or "fini flight," are met and hosed down with water. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Joseph Swafford/Released)