Fueling the fight for RF-A 17-1

A pair of U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcons assigned to the 36th Fighter Squadron out of Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea, fly in formation next to a KC-135 Stratotanker out of McConnell Air Force Base, Kan., Oct. 10, 2016, during a RED FLAG-Alaska (RF-A) 17-1 mission. RF-A exercises are conducted within the Joint Pacific Alaska Range Complex, which provides expansive co-located air and land ranges within a more than 67,000 square mile area, including one conventional bombing range and two tactical bombing ranges containing 510 different types of targets and 45 threat simulators, both manned and unmanned to provide a realistic training environment for participants. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Karen J. Tomasik)

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Fueling the fight for RF-A 17-1

U.S. Air Force Airman First Class Maxwell Smesny, a boom operator assigned to the 350th Air Refueling Squadron out of McConnell Air Force Base, Kan., follows a preflight checklist prior to take off from Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, Oct. 10, 2016, during RED FLAG-Alaska (RF-A) 17-1. Aircrews operating KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft are vital to the success of RF-A, a series of Pacific Air Forces commander-directed field training exercises for U.S. and partner nation forces, enabling joint and international units to sharpen their skills by flying simulated combat sorties in a realistic threat environment. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Karen J. Tomasik)

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Fueling the fight for RF-A 17-1

A U.S. Air Force pilot assigned to the 350th Air Refueling Squadron out of McConnell Air Force Base, Kan., keeps a KC-135 Stratotanker in formation as F-15 Eagle and F-16 Fighting Falcon fighter jets prepare to refuel Oct. 10, 2016, during a RED FLAG-Alaska (RF-A) 17-1 mission. Aircrews operating KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft are essential to RF-A exercises that provide commanders training for full spectrum engagements, ranging from individual skills to complex, large-scale joint engagements in the realistic threat environment inside more than 67,000 square miles of airspace within the Joint Pacific Alaska Range Complex. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Karen J. Tomasik)

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Fueling the fight for RF-A 17-1

A U.S. Air Force F-15 Eagle assigned to the 44th Fighter Squadron out of Kadena Air Base, Japan, connects with a KC-135 Stratotanker out of McConnell Air Force Base, Kan., Oct. 10, 2016, during a RED FLAG-Alaska (RF-A) 17-1 mission. RF-A exercises enable joint and international units to sharpen their skills by flying simulated combat sorties in a realistic threat environment inside the Joint Pacific Alaska Range Complex, the largest instrumented air, ground and electronic combat training range in the world. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Karen J. Tomasik)

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Fueling the fight for RF-A 17-1

A pair of U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcons assigned to the 36th Fighter Squadron out of Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea, flies in formation with a KC-135 Stratotanker out of McConnell Air Force Base, Kan., Oct. 10, 2016, during a RED FLAG-Alaska (RF-A) 17-1 mission. RF-A exercises are vital to maintaining peace and stability in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region and signify the United States' commitment to its partners throughout the area. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Karen J. Tomasik)

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Fueling the fight for RF-A 17-1

A U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon assigned to the 36th Fighter Squadron out of Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea, flies in formation next to a KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft while waiting to refuel Oct. 10, 2016, during a RED FLAG-Alaska (RF-A) 17-1 mission. RF-A is a series of Pacific Air Forces commander-directed field training exercises conducted within the Joint Pacific Alaska Range Complex, which provides a realistic training environment and allows commanders to train for full spectrum engagements ranging from individual skills to complex, large-scale joint missions. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Karen J. Tomasik)

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Fueling the fight for RF-A 17-1

A U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon assigned to the 36th Fighter Squadron out of Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea, flies in formation next to a KC-135 Stratotanker out of McConnell Air Force Base, Kan., Oct. 10, 2016, during a RED FLAG-Alaska (RF-A) 17-1 mission. RF-A, a series of Pacific Air Forces commander-directed field training exercises, provides unique opportunities to integrate various into joint, coalition and multilateral training from simulated forward operating bases. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Karen J. Tomasik)

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Fueling the fight for RF-A 17-1

A U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon assigned to the 36th Fighter Squadron out of Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea, inverts as it heads back to the fight after refueling from a KC-135 Stratotanker out of McConnell Air Force Base, Kan., Oct. 10, 2016, during a RED FLAG-Alaska (RF-A) 17-1 mission. RF-A exercises provide realistic combat training to joint and international forces essential to the success of air and space operations with minimal impact on the environment within more than 67,000 square miles of airspace inside the Joint Pacific Alaska Range Complex. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Karen J. Tomasik)

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Fueling the fight for RF-A 17-1

Published Oct. 21, 2016
By Master Sgt. Karen J. Tomasik
354th Fighter Wing

EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska --

U.S. Air Force members assigned to the 350th Air Refueling Squadron out of McConnell Air Force Base, Kan., perform a refueling mission during RED FLAG-Alaska (RF-A) 17-1, over Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, Oct. 10, 2016. Aircrews operating KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft are vital to the success of RF-A, a series of Pacific Air Forces commander-directed field training exercises for U.S. and partner nation forces, enabling joint and international units to sharpen their skills by flying simulated combat sorties in a realistic threat environment. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Karen J. Tomasik)