First Deployment Offers Fuels Specialist Unique Perspective

Airman 1st Class David Peterson, 407th Air Expeditionary Group fuels equipment specialist, prepares to refuel a Bell UH-1 Iroquois helicopter at Ali Base, Iraq, Aug. 24, 2011. He is deployed from Minot Air Force Base, N.D., and is from Tuscon, Ariz. (U. S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Cecilio Ricardo)

First Deployment Offers Fuels Specialist Unique Perspective

Airman 1st Class David Peterson, 407th Air Expeditionary Group fuels equipment specialist, prepares to fill a 6,000 gallon R-11 refueling unit with JP8 (jet fuel) using an air-transportable hydrant refueling system at Ali Base, Iraq, Aug. 24, 2011. He is deployed from Minot Air Force Base, N.D., and is from Tuscon, Ariz. (U. S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Cecilio Ricardo)

Ceremony Pays Tribute to 9/11 Victims

Army Lt. Gen. Frank Helmick, Deputy Commanding General for Operations, United States Forces - Iraq, speaks at the 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony on Al Asad Air Base, Iraq Sept. 11, 2011. The ceremony remembers the terrorists attacks on Sept. 11, 2001. (U.S. AIr Force photo/Staff Sgt. Shawn Rose)

Ceremony Pays Tribute to 9/11 Victims

Service members and civilians attend the 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony on Al Asad Air Base, Iraq Sept. 11, 2011. The ceremony remembers the terrorists attacks on Sept. 11, 2001. (U.S. AIr Force photo/Staff Sgt. Shawn Rose)

Ali Base Airmen Help U.S. Forces Transit Iraq

Several military passengers walk onto the flightline to board a C-17 Globemaster III transport aircraft at Ali Base, Iraq on Aug. 26, 2011.The terminal is the southern aerial hub of Iraq. It processes approximately 5,000 passengers and 850,000 pounds of cargo each month. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Cecilio Ricardo)

Ali Base Airmen Help U.S. Forces Transit Iraq

Several military passengers walk onto the flightline to board a C-17 Globemaster III transport aircraft at Ali Base, Iraq on Aug. 26, 2011. The terminal is the southern aerial hub of Iraq. It processes approximately 5,000 passengers and 850,000 pounds of cargo each month. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Cecilio Ricardo)

Ali Base Airmen Help U.S. Forces Transit Iraq

Three soldiers play a Farkle dice game while waiting for transport at the passenger terminal Ali Base, Iraq on Aug. 26, 2011. The terminal is the southern aerial hub of Iraq. It processes approximately 5,000 passengers and 850,000 pounds of cargo each month. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Cecilio Ricardo)

Ali Base Airmen Help U.S. Forces Transit Iraq

A soldier carries his gear into the Ali Base passenger terminal on Aug. 26, 2011. Ali Base passenger terminal, the southern aerial hub of Iraq, processes approximately 5,000 passengers and 850,000 pounds of cargo each month. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Cecilio Ricardo)

Ali Base Airmen Help U.S. Forces Transit Iraq

Senior Airman Brandon Metz helps customers at the passenger terminal at Ali Base, Iraq, Aug. 25, 2011. Airman Metz is stationed at Kadena Air Base, Japan, and his hometown is San Antonio. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Cecilio Ricardo)

Fire Chief Reflects on 9/11 Anniversary

Chief Master Sgt. Michael Clayton a fire chief with the 407th Air Expeditionary Group Fire Department is surrounded by his team of firefighters at Ali Base, Iraq, Aug. 30, 2011. He is deployed from Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, and his hometown is Brusly, La. Chief Clayton has served 24 years of active duty including seven deployments. The 9/11 shaped the career and the person that he is today. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Cecilio Ricardo)

Honor Guard prepare for 9/11 Ceremony

Master Sgt. Herman Ybarra stands in the middle of the four-man drill team while his 407 Air Expeditionary Group Honor Guard practices for their 9/11 ceremony at Ali Base, Iraq on Aug. 28, 2011. Sergeant Ybarra is deployed from Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., and is a native of Corpus Christi, Texas. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Cecilio Ricardo)

Honor Guard prepare for 9/11 Ceremony

Tech. Sgt. Sean Hannah, 407th Security Forces Squadron NCO-in-Charge of operations, voluntarily performs flutter kicks Aug. 28, 2011, after dropping his rifle while practicing drill team movements in preparation for the 9/11 ceremony at Ali Base, Iraq.Sergeant Hannah is deployed from Hill Air Force Base, Utah, and a native of Mobile, Ala. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Cecilio Ricardo)

Honor Guard prepare for 9/11 Ceremony

Senior Airman Christopher Fountain, 407th Air Expeditionary Group Honor Guard member, practices drill team techniques Aug. 28, 2011, in preparation for a 9/11 ceremony at Ali Base, Iraq. Airman Fountain is deployed from Creech Air Force Base, Nev. (U. S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Cecilio Ricardo)

Honor Guard prepare for 9/11 Ceremony

Master Sgt. Herman Ybarra demonstrates drill team techniques Aug. 28, 2011, to his 407th Air Expeditionary Group Honor Guard in preparation for their 9/11 ceremony at Ali Base, Iraq. Sergeant Ybarra is deployed from Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., and is a native of Corpus Christi, Texas. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Cecilio Ricardo)

Secretary of the Air Force visits Al Asad Air Base, Iraq Airmen

Tech. Sgt. Brian Cartwright, 368th Expeditionary Air Support Operations Group, Vehicle maintenance NCO-in-charge, receives a coin for outstanding performance from the Honorable Michael Donley, Secretary of the Air Force at Al Asad Air Base, Iraq, Sept. 6, 2011. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Cecilio Ricardo)

Secretary of the Air Force visits Al Asad Air Base, Iraq Airmen

Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley, left, presents Lt. Col. Richard Fields with a coin Sept. 6, 2011, at Al Asad Air Base, Iraq while Col. Frank Heinsohn, and Tech. Sgt. Brian Cartwright look on. Fields, 9th Air and Space Expeditionary Task Force-I, chief of air mobility, was presented with the coin because of his outstanding leadership. He is deployed from Kirtland N.M., and is from Pueblo West, Colo. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Cecilio Ricardo)

Secretary of the Air Force visits Al Asad Air Base, Iraq Airmen

Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley addresses the Airmen of the 532nd Expeditionary Operations Support Squadron on the flight line Sept. 6, 2011, at Al Asad Air Base, Iraq. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Cecilio Ricardo)

Secretary of the Air Force visits Al Asad Air Base, Iraq Airmen

Maj. Gen. Russ Handy, commander, 9th Air and Space Expeditionary Task Force-Iraq, and director, Air Component Coordination Element-Iraq, introduces Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley, to his staff during the Secretary's visit to Al Asad Air Base, Iraq, Sept. 6, 2011. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Cecilio Ricardo)

USAF Reservist/Airine Pilot recalls 9/11

Col. Tom Fuhrmann, right, receives a military decoration from Maj. Gen. Russ Handy, the commander, 9th Air and Space Expeditionary Task Force-Iraq, and director, Air Component Coordination Element-Iraq, during a ceremony Sept. 2, 2011, at Al Asad Air Base, Iraq. During his six-month deployment supporting Operation New Dawn in Iraq, Colonel Fuhrmann was responsible for integrating air component sustainment and transition efforts. Colonel Fuhrmann is a member of the Air Force Reserves and is stationed at the Pentagon. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Tristin English)

Fayetteville native keeps troops fed at new base

Tech. Sgt. Reginald Morrison, command food services manager for U.S. Air Forces Central Command, arrived at an undisclosed location in Southwest Asia Aug. 15, 2011. His mission here was to take a dining facility that hasn't served hot meals in several years, and transform it to a fully functional DFAC. Morrison is a graduate of E.E. Smith Senior High School and native of Fayetteville, N.C. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. David Salanitri/Released)

Iraqi pilot program trains future leaders

Two Iraqi pilots prepare to check over their plane at Kirkuk Air Base. Checking the plane helps the pilots figure out if everything is running properly and making sure there are no unwanted cracks that could cause trouble during the flight. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Tristin English)

Iraqi pilot program trains future leaders

An Iraqi pilot checks over the plane at Kirkuk Air Base. He is checking the plane for unwanted cracks that could cause trouble during the flight. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Tristin English)

Combined Force Air Component Commander visits Al Asad Air Base

Technical Sgt. William Nelson salutes Lt. Gen. David Goldfein,Combined ForceAir Component Commander, after receiving a coin during Lt. Gen. Goldfein'svisit to Al Asad Air Base, Iraq. Sergeant Nelson is a Client SupportTechnician, 340 Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron. He is currentlystationed at MacDill AFB, FL and his hometown is Brandon, FL. In thebackground to the left is Master Sgt. Brian Bowers. (U.S. Air Forcephoto/Master Sgt. Cecilio Ricardo)

Combined Force Air Component Commander visits Al Asad Air Base

Staff Sgt. James Potter salutes Lt. Gen. David Goldfein,Combined Force AirComponent Commander, after receiving a coin during Lt. Gen. Goldfein's visitto Al Asad Air Base, Iraq. Sergeant Potter is an Air Freight Assistant ShiftSupervisor, 532 Expeditionary Operations Support Squadron. He is currentlystationed at Pope AFB, NC and his hometown is White Pine, TN. (U.S. AirForce photo/Master Sgt. Cecilio Ricardo)