An official website of the United States government
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

McConnell Reservists return from deployment

  • Published
  • By 1st Lt. Zach Anderson
  • 931st Air Refueling Group Public Affairs
MCCONNELL AIR FORCE BASE, Kan. --  More than 50 Airmen from the Air Force Reserve 931st Air Refueling Group have returned home from a deployment over the last two days.

The final collection of Airmen arrived here this afternoon after completing more than two months of serving as part of the 90th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron at Incirlik Air Base, Turkey.

The primary duty of the 90 EARS is to fly refueling missions supporting C-5 Galaxy and C-17 Globemaster III cargo aircraft coming in and out of the area of operations. The air refueling mission acts as a "force multiplier" by allowing the cargo aircraft to land and offload at locations down range without having to land for refueling.

"I'm extremely proud of our performance," said Lt. Col. Michael Moeding, a member of the 931 ARG who served as commander of the 90 EARS for the duration of his deployment. "Going in, our goal was to make the squadron better than how we found it, and I'm confident that we did that in all areas."

The returning deployers were greeted by friends and family on the flight line, as well as several members of 931 ARG leadership. For the Citizen Airmen, the reception was well worth the more than ten-hour flight to get back to McConnell.

"It's an honor to deploy and serve my country, and I'm very proud to do that," said Tech. Sgt. Chris Norris, a refueling boom operator assigned to the Group's 18th Air Refueling Squadron. "But it doesn't matter where you go; the best part of any deployment is when you finally come home."