Louisiana native helps bring servicemembers home

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. James Harp, C-17 Globemaster III loadmaster, gives instructions to passengers during a redeployment mission headed for Afghanistan, Sept. 15, 2012. Sgt. Harp is currently part of the 817th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron, deployed to the Transit Center at Manas, Kyrgyzstan. The 817th and their C-17s are an integral piece of the redeployment mission and help to move passengers and cargo within the area of operation.

Louisiana native helps bring servicemembers home

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. James Harp, C-17 Globemaster III loadmaster, is currently deployed with the 817th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron, Transit Center at Manas, Kyrgyzstan. Harp is one of several loadmasters contributing to redeployment operations in Afghanistan. He is heavily relied upon by the squadron as a loadmaster evaluator. Harp has been in the AF for six and a half years. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Clay Lancaster/ Released)

JTACs

1st Lt. Drew Parks, Air Liaison Officer, 82nd Expeditionary Air Support Operations Squadron, communicates with a U.S. Navy F/A-18 Super Hornet supporting Operation Spartan Shield on Sept. 11, 2012, Southwest Asia. JTAC's establish and maintain command and control communications, control air traffic, naval gun fire, and provide precision terminal attack guidance of U.S. and coalition close air support. Parks hometown is Hampstead, N.C. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Staff Sgt. Jonathan Snyder)

JTACs

1st Lt. Drew Parks, Air Liaison Officer, 82nd Expeditionary Air Support Operations Squadron, grabs equipment from a Mine-Resistant, Ambush-Protected, All-Terrain Vehicle on Sept. 11, 2012, Southwest Asia. JTAC's establish and maintain command and control communications, control air traffic, naval gun fire, and provide precision terminal attack guidance of U.S. and coalition close air support. Parks hometown is Hampstead, N.C. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Staff Sgt. Jonathan Snyder)

JTACs

U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Matthew Perry, Radio Operator Maintainer And Driver, 82nd Expeditionary Air Support Operations Squadron, communicates with a U.S. Navy F/A-18 Super Hornet supporting Operation Spartan Shield on Sept. 11, 2012, Southwest Asia. Most Tactical Air Control Party teams consists of a ROMAD and Joint Terminal Attack Controller, who directly communicates with pilots to call in close air support. Perry hometown is Front Royal, Va. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Staff Sgt. Jonathan Snyder)

JTACs

A U.S. Navy F/A-18 Super Hornet hits its designated target with an inert laser guided bomb marked by U.S. Air Force Joint Terminal Attack Controller supporting Operation Spartan Shield on Sept. 11, 2012, Southwest Asia. JTAC's establish and maintain command and control communications, control air traffic, naval gun fire, and provide precision terminal attack guidance of U.S. and coalition close air support. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Staff Sgt. Jonathan Snyder)

JTACs

1st Lt. Drew Parks, Air Liaison Officer, 82nd Expeditionary Air Support Operations Squadron, communicates with a U.S. Navy F/A-18 Super Hornet on Sept. 11, 2012, Southwest Asia. JTAC's are qualified to coordinate and control all attack air assets, surface-to-surface and unmanned aerial vehicles from all branches of the U.S. and Multi-National Military. Parks hometown is Hampstead, N.C. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Staff Sgt. Jonathan Snyder)

Wounded Warriors ready to get back into the fight

U.S. Army members with the Inter Theater Care Program (ITCP) make their way out to a U.S. Air Force C-130 Hercules, which will transport them back to their deployed organizations, undisclosed location, Southwest Asia, August 30, 2012. These members are part of ITCP because they suffered from combat related injuries in the AOR. The ITCP was established in order to care for injured troops, who were able to be rehabilitated and returned to their respective units within the AOR. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Clay Lancaster/ Released)

Wounded Warriors ready to get back into the fight

U.S. Army members with the Inter Theater Care Program (ITCP) await travel out to a U.S. Air Force C-130 Hercules, which will transport them back to their deployed organizations, undisclosed location, Southwest Asia, August 30, 2012. These members are part of ITCP because they suffered from combat related injuries in the AOR. The ITCP was established in order to care for injured troops, who were able to be rehabilitated and returned to their respective units within the AOR. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Clay Lancaster/ Released)

Wounded Warriors ready to get back into the fight

U.S. Army members with the Inter Theater Care Program (ITCP) finish their final medical appointment before making their way back to their deployed organizations, undisclosed location, Southwest Asia, August 30, 2012. These members are part of ITCP because they suffered from combat related injuries in the AOR. The ITCP was established in order to care for injured troops, who were able to be rehabilitated and returned to their respective units within the AOR. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Clay Lancaster/ Released)

Wounded Warriors ready to get back into the fight

U.S. Army Cpl. Christina Connores, who works transportation with the 414th Transportation Company, performs physical therapy on her right knee, which was operated on due to combat related injuries, undisclosed location, Southwest Asia, August 30, 2012. Cpl. Connores is part of the Inter Theater Care Program (ITCP), which houses and cares for up to 20 members who are injured while in combat. The ITCP was established in order to care for injured troops, who were able to be rehabilitated and returned to their respective units within the AOR. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Clay Lancaster/ Released)

Wounded Warriors ready to get back into the fight

- U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Michael Lopez, a telecommunications project manager with the 335th Signal Command, performs physical therapy on his shoulder, which was injured while deployed, undisclosed location, Southwest Asia, August 30, 2012. SFC Lopez is a member of the Inter Theater Care Program (ITCP), which houses and cares for up to 20 members who are injured while in combat. The ITCP was established in order to care for injured troops, who were able to be rehabilitated and returned to their respective units within the AOR. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Clay Lancaster/ Released)

Wounded Warriors ready to get back into the fight

U.S. Army Spc. Chris Shuck waits to be seen by U.S. Air Force Maj. Norris Jackson, a doctor at the 379th Expeditionary Medical Group, undisclosed location, Southwest Asia, August 30, 2012. Spc. Shuck is a member of the Inter Theater Care Program (ITCP) and spent several weeks healing from hernia surgery. The ITCP was established in order to care for injured troops, who were able to be rehabilitated and returned to their respective units within the AOR. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Clay Lancaster/ Released)

22nd EARS goes where needed to make mission happen

U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Frank Pappalardo, KC-135 Stratotanker boom operator, performs and air refueling over Afghanistan, August 3, 2012. A1C Pappalardo is part of the 22d Expeditionary Air Refueling Sq., based out of Transit Center at Manas, Kyrgyzstan. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Clay Lancaster/Released)

Theater Security Cooperation

The mayor of a local village, Jany-Jher, Kyrgyzstan, meets with U.S. Air Force and civilian personnel during a visit to repair or replace four waterpump sites, August 5, 2012. The waterpumps will give a fresh and constant supply of water for 9,500 villagers. Manas's TSC has a two-fold mission: to positively influence political leaders and to strengthen democracy in the region. The TSC here is completely ran by U.S. Air Force personnel.(U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Clay Lancaster)(Released)

Theater Security Cooperation

The mayor of a local village, Jany-Jher, Kyrgyzstan, meets with U.S. Air Force and civilian personnel during a visit to repair or replace four waterpump sites, August 5, 2012. The waterpumps will give a fresh and constant supply of water for 9,500 villagers. Manas's TSC has a two-fold mission: to positively influence political leaders and to strengthen democracy in the region. The TSC here is completely ran by U.S. Air Force personnel.(U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Clay Lancaster)(Released)

Theater Security Cooperation

A U.S. Air Force Theater Security Cooperation member conducts a land survey near Jany-Jher, a nearby village of Transit Center at Manas, Kyrgyzstan, August 5, 2012. Manas's TSC has a two-fold mission: to positively influence political leaders and to strengthen democracy in the region. The TSC here is completely ran by U.S. Air Force personnel.(U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Clay Lancaster)(Released)

Theater Security Cooperation

A local Kyrgyzstan elder escorts U.S. Air Force Theater Security Cooperation members and civilian personnel to four waterpump sites that are in dire need of repair or replacement, Jany-Jher, Kyrgyzstan, August 5, 2012. Manas's TSC has a two-fold mission: to positively influence political leaders and to strengthen democracy in the region. The TSC here is completely ran by U.S. Air Force personnel.(U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Clay Lancaster)(Released)

Local School

U.S. Air Force members from the 22d Expeditionary Air Refueling Sq., Transit Center at Manas, Kyrgyzstan, meet with a principal of a local grade schooll in Bishkek, August 7, 2012. The airman volunteered to renovate the school through a program with the Theater Security Cooperation, an USAF ran program that helps the local community. TSC has a two-fold mission: to positively influence political leaders and to strengthen democracy in the region. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Clay Lancaster)(Released)

Local School

U.S. Air Force members from the 22d Expeditionary Air Refueling Sq., Transit Center at Manas, Kyrgyzstan, paint a play yard at a grade school in Bishkek, August 7, 2012. The airman volunteered through a program with the Theater Security Cooperation, an USAF ran program that helps the local community. TSC has a two-fold mission: to positively influence political leaders and to strengthen democracy in the region. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Clay Lancaster)(Released)

Local School

A U.S. Air Force member from the 22d Expeditionary Air Refueling Sq., Transit Center at Manas, Kyrgyzstan, paints parts of a play yard at a grade school in Bishkek, August 7, 2012. The airman volunteered through a program with the Theater Security Cooperation, an USAF ran program that helps the local community. TSC has a two-fold mission: to positively influence political leaders and to strengthen democracy in the region. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Clay Lancaster)(Released)

Local School

A local woman near Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan passes by a grade school that is being renovated by Theater Security Cooperation, a U.S. Air Force ran program at Transit Center at Manas, Kyrgyzstan, August 7, 2012. TSC has a two-fold mission: to positively influence political leaders and to strengthen democracy in the region. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Clay Lancaster)(Released)

Hawaiian Airman

U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Eric Faurott, 22nd Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron boom operator, loads bags before a refueling flight over Afghanistan, Aug. 2, 2012. Faurott has been in the military for 27 years and is a native of Kapolei, Hawaii. The 22nd EARS provides aerial refueling support to Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps and allied nation aircraft in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Staff Sgt. Alexandria Mosness)(Released)

Spirit of Aloha

U.S. Air Force 22nd Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron members 1st Lt. Josh Ishiki, copilot, Capt. Michael Curtis, aircraft commander and Master Sgt. Eric Faurott, boom operator, give the shaka or hang loose sign after a mission on the flightline, Transit Center at Manas, Kyrgyzstan, Aug. 2, 2012. The shaka sign is native to Hawaii and is a sign of salutation that means friendship. The three team members are all members of the Hawaiian Air National Guard who work together to fuel the fight for Operation Enduring Freedom. The group is one of the many 22nd EARS crew who flies the KC-135 Stratotanker over Afghanistan to provide aerial refueling support to Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps and allied nation aircraft. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Staff Sgt. Michelle Revoir)(Released)