1) ATQ Fall 2003 for pdf - Airlift/Tanker Association

“She can do that. She can handle the most nerve-racking portion of
her job with a lot of patience because she is damn good at her job,”
said flight engineer Tech. Sgt. Mike Cox.
After the A-10 received its fill, Monke received a short break. At 1:25
a.m., she prepared to refuel two F-
16s.
A little more than five hours
later, after distributing more than
60,000 pounds of fuel, the biggest
part of Monke’s job was finished.
She was nearing the end of her
16-hour duty day, but still had
to complete the paperwork that
comes with the job.
With her paperwork completed,
she was free to start studying her
Career Development Course.
The best thing about her job,
she said, are the people she works
with.
Airman 1st Class Katherine Monke
operates the boom on a KC-10
Extender during a recent combat
mission over Afghanistan. (U.S.
Air Force photo by Senior Airman
Rachel Bush)
“… Everyone I work with is
phenomenal. They all have
knowledge to share, and we learn
from each other along the way,”
she said.
Although her time in the Air
Force has been short, Monke has
already accomplished one of the biggest goals she had set for herself:
Working on a KC-10. Before leaving for basic training, she had seen a
KC-10 at an air show and set her sights on it.
“When you come in as a boom (operator) you are guaranteed to
work on a KC-135, but you have to be asked to join the KC-10 team,”
she said. “I told my dad, ‘That is the plane I want to work on.’ So, being
asked to work on (it) is definitely my biggest accomplishment.”
KC-135 Stratotanker
Ganci Air Base: Fairchild Airmen
Support Global War on Terrorism
The 376th AEW mission is to provide tactical airlift, fighter support
and air refueling, which includes KC-135R Stratotankers from the
United States supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.
“Never would I have imagined that I would be launching air
combat missions from a former Soviet air force base,” said Master
Sgt. Joe Veliz, 92nd Air Refueling Wing, currently deployed as the
weapons safety manager, 376th Air Expeditionary Wing.
Sergeant Veliz is in charge of overseeing the weapons safety
program at Ganci with the Coalition forces that fly aircraft combat
missions, cargo re-supply and movement of U.S and Coalition
personnel downrange for combat missions.
“We’re the main theater processing focal point for personnel who
deploy downrange for contingency missions,” said Sergeant Veliz.
Although everyone in the military plays a part in the Global
War on Terrorism serving closer to enemy territory can bring a new
perspective.
“The most rewarding experience is serving with these young
airmen, soldiers and Marines here at Ganci,” said Sergeant Veliz. “The
youth of America have rose and stepped-up to the challenge. The fire
that burns in them to secure the protection of American lives, for me
it’s an honor to serve with them.”
Many Coalition forces have been deployed to Ganci along with
the United States in support of OEF. France, Norway and Spain have
finished their mission there and returned home. However, other
European air forces from Italy, Denmark and the Netherlands join
New Zealand and Korea in participating in the mission with U.S.
forces.
“One of the great things about being deployed is experiencing
another culture and meeting interesting people,” said Lieutenant
Smith. “Kyrgyzstan is a beautiful country, from what I’ve seen
near Bishkek; it has a colorful history and culture, with welcoming
people.”
According to the Air Force Link OEF operational overview,
throughout combat operations in Afghanistan, the Air Force has
flown more than 48,000 airlift missions, and tankers have flown more
than 17,050 refueling missions supporting aircraft from all services.
Freedom Is Not Free…
by Tech. Sgt. Martie Capoeman
92nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
Ganci Air Base, situated about 20 miles outside Bishkek, the capital
of Kyrgyzstan, is located about 500 miles from Afghanistan.
Only 10 years ago, this area was part of the Soviet Union, but
now it’s considered an American ally against the Global War on
Terrorism.
Ganci is possibly one of the most well known deployed bases since
being named in honor of Chief Peter Ganci, the New York City fire
chief who died Sept. 11, 2001, in the collapse of the World Trade
Center Towers.
“It’s a privilege to serve our country overseas specifically at a base
named in honor of Chief Peter J. Ganci,” said 1st Lieutenant Tanya
Smith, an executive officer for the 92nd Air Refueling Wing.
Lieutenant Smith is currently deployed to Ganci. She deployed
as a Russian linguist. She said her duties include providing Russian
language support to the 376th Air Expeditionary Wing staff. More
specifically though, she serves as an honesty broker at meetings with
local officials, helping to verify accurate translations, translating some
documents and, at times, accompanying the commander or wing
staff to functions downtown.
In addition, she also calls local offices to arrange appointments
and provide Russian language support for on-base functions with
local guests.
The Air Force Honor Guard delivers the casket of Airman 1st
Class Raymond Losano during the airman’s funeral May 14,
at Pope AFB, North Carolina. Losano, 24, was killed April 25
during a firefight in Afghanistan near the Pakistan border. He
was a tactical air command and control specialist assigned to
the 14th Air Support Operations Squadron at Pope. (Photo
by Airman 1st Class Cassandra J. Locke)
24 A/TQ •Airlift/Tanker Quarterly • Fall 2003