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Team MacDill Airmen Deploy to the Middle East

A KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft takes off from MacDill Air Force Base, Fla., April 9, 2021. The aircraft was carrying cargo and Airmen from MacDill AFB to their deployed location at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class David D. McLoney)

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Team MacDill Airmen Deploy to the Middle East

Airmen from the 91st Air Refueling Squadron roll cargo for a deployment onto a KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft, April 9, 2021, at MacDill Air Force Base, Fla. The cargo is loading and then secured on rollers, making it easy to offload when arriving at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class David D. McLoney)

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Team MacDill Airmen Deploy to the Middle East

U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Tristan Shannon, a 91st Air Refueling Squadron (ARS) boom operator, signals to the K-Loader driver when pulling up to a KC-135 Stratotanker on the flightline, April 9, 2021, at MacDill Air Force Base, Fla. The K-Loader loaded bags belonging to Airmen from the 91st ARS that deployed to Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class David D. McLoney)

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Team MacDill Airmen Deploy to the Middle East

U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Tristan Shannon, a 91st Air Refueling Squadron boom operator, provides a safety brief to the cargo load team prior to loading a KC-135 Stratotanker, April 9, 2021, at MacDill Air Force Base. 6th Air Refueling Wing teams must discuss all plans before loading and unloading an aircraft. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class David D. McLoney)

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Team MacDill Airmen Deploy to the Middle East

U.S. Air Force 1st Lt. Andres G. Velez, a 50th Air Refueling Squadron (ARS) pilot, programs flight information into a panel on a KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft, April 9, 2021, at MacDill Air Force Base, Fla., prior to a 91st ARS deployment. The panel is designed to keep track of flight navigation using a global positioning system and the destination is added prior to flight. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class David D. McLoney)

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Team MacDill Airmen Deploy to the Middle East

U.S. Air Force 1st Lt. Andres G. Velez, a 50th Air Refueling Squadron (ARS) pilot, reads the long format checklist binder while performing a preflight check on a KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft, at MacDill Air Force Base, Fla., April 9, 2021 prior to a 91st ARS deployment. Airmen from the 50th ARS completed pre-deployment measures for deploying 91st ARS Airmen to help reduce the burden of certain preparations before the 91st flew to their deployed location. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class David D. McLoney)

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Team MacDill Airmen Deploy to the Middle East

U.S. Air Force 1st Lt. Andres G. Velez, a 50th Air Refueling Squadron (ARS) pilot, performs a preflight check on a KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft at MacDill Air Force Base, Fla., April 9, 2021, prior to a 91st ARS deployment. The checks are designed to ensure all equipment is operational before the aircraft pilots get onboard. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class David D. McLoney)

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Team MacDill Airmen Deploy to the Middle East

U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Kris Schools, a 50th Air Refueling Squadron (ARS) boom operator instructor adjusts the mounting hardware for the cargo roller wheels on a KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft at MacDill Air Force Base, Fla., April 9, 2021, prior to a 91st ARS deployment. The rollers are checked prior to cargo being loaded which provides a safe way for airmen to move cargo around the aircraft. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class David D. McLoney)

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Team MacDill Airmen Deploy to the Middle East

U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Ashley Upton (left), a 50th Air Refueling Squadron (ARS) boom operator, and Tech. Sgt. Kris Schools (right), a 50th ARS instructor boom operator, inspect the mounting hardware for the cargo roller wheels on a KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft at MacDill Air Force Base, Fla., April 9, 2021, prior to a 91st ARS deployment. Airmen from the 50th ARS completed pre-deployment measures for deploying 91st ARS Airmen to help reduce the burden of certain preparations before the 91st flew to their deployed location. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class David D. McLoney)

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Team MacDill Airmen deploy to the Middle East

Team MacDill Airmen stand outside a KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft on the flight line, April 8, 2021 at MacDill Air Force Base, Fla. The Airmen awaited departure for a deployment to Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Shannon Bowman)

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Team MacDill Airmen deploy to the Middle East

Team MacDill Airmen gather outside a KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft on the flight line, April 8, 2021 at MacDill Air Force Base, Fla. The Airmen awaited departure for a deployment to Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar in support of U.S. Air Forces Central. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Shannon Bowman)

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Team MacDill Airmen deploy to the Middle East

Team MacDill Airmen climb a set of air stairs to board a KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft on the flight line, April 8, 2021 at MacDill Air Force Base, Fla. The Airmen departed MacDill for a deployment to Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Shannon Bowman)

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Team MacDill Airmen deploy to the Middle East

Team MacDill Airmen climb a set of air stairs to board a KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft on the flight line, April 8, 2021 at MacDill Air Force Base, Fla. The Airmen departed MacDill for a deployment to Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar in support of U.S. Air Forces Central, which delivers dominant coalition air power to secure and stabilize the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Shannon Bowman)

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Team MacDill Airmen deploy to the Middle East

Team MacDill Airmen pose for a photo outside a KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft on the flight line, April 8, 2021 at MacDill Air Force Base, Fla. The Airmen awaited departure for a deployment to Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar in support of U.S. Air Forces Central, which delivers dominant coalition air power to secure and stabilize the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Shannon Bowman)

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Team MacDill Airmen deploy to the Middle East

Team MacDill Airmen load cargo onto a KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft on the flight line, April 8, 2021 at MacDill Air Force Base, Fla. The aircraft was being prepared for departure for a deployment to Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar in support of U.S. Air Forces Central. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Shannon Bowman)

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Team MacDill Airmen deploy to the Middle East

Published April 13, 2021
By Senior Airman Shannon Bowman
6th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs