Hawaii Air National Guard Tankers Return from Deployment

21 June 2016

From Hawaii State Department of Defense

JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii -- More than 50 members of the Hawaii Air National Guard (HIANG) and three KC-135 Stratotankers, based at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam (JBPH-H) have returned home following a four-month deployment in support of Operation Inherent Resolve. The three KC-135 Stratotankers belonging to the 203rd Air Refueling Squadron, along with flight and maintenance crews and other support personnel were part of the 18-Nation air Coalition in the fight against Daesh or ISIS. Two tankers and most of the Airmen arrived today at JB PH-H following the long flight from Al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar. They were greeted by 154th Wing Commander Brig. Gen. Gregory Woodrow. One tanker returned home on Thursday.

The HIANG Airmen were deployed for four months as part of an Air Expeditionary Force rotation. The unit has deployed to the U.S. Central Command (US CENTCOM) Area of Responsibility numerous times. Aerial refueling makes it possible to extend the range and persistence of Coalition air operations in Iraq and Syria, enabling U.S. and other Coalition aircraft to maintain a 24/7 presence over areas Daesh operates in, holding targets they value at risk.

All of the HIANG Airmen who deployed are part of the 154th Wing, the largest Air National Guard wing in the nation. The Hawaii Air National Guard is comprised of nearly 2,500 Airmen whose federal mission is to be trained and available for active duty Air Force operational missions.