Tinker AFB "Okies" keep refueling during RIMPAC exercise

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Cohen A Young
  • Defense Media Activity - Hawaii News Bureau
JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii --  Aircraft refuelers from Tinker Air Force Base, Okla.,  are keeping aircraft flying during the Rim of the Pacific exercise currently underway in the Hawaiian Operating Area through July 30.

RIMPAC, a biennial exercise in its 22nd year, is hosted by U. S. Pacific Fleet and is the world's largest maritime exercise. The exercise demonstrates a commitment to working with global partners in guarding sea-lanes of commerce and communication, protecting national interests abroad and ensuring freedom of navigation as a basis for global peace and prosperity.

The 465th Refueling Squadron at Tinker Air Force Base, Okla., a Reserve unit, is responsible for refueling many of the aircraft participating in RIMPAC. There are 14 nations, 32 ships, five submarines, more than 170 aircraft and 20,000 personnel involved.

Although, the 465th RS has been involved in RIMPAC for a number of years, this year the U.S. Air Force has a larger role, according to Brig. Gen. Thomas Harwood, the Combined Force Air Component commander for RIMPAC.

"The maritime component wanted to make the exercise more and more valuable," said General Harwood. "They are bringing in more land components and more air components; therefore, the Air Force is going to be a big part of that," the general added.

As a result of the larger role the Air Force is playing, aircrews have been flying a lot and in some cases, squadrons have split into two teams to support the month-long exercise.
 
"We're the second half rotation for the Reserves and we've been very busy," said Maj. Benjamin Evans, a pilot with the 465th RS. "We as a unit have been flying daily, sometimes five lines a day, or in some cases two, but it's been quite busy."

The KC-135 Stratotankers from the 465th RS have completed at least 35 sorties to this point and have delivered more than 100,000 gallons of fuel to aircraft from the Air Force, Navy and some coalition partners.