Alaska ANG KC-135s provide 'edge' anytime, anywhere

EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska: Between eight and 12 KC-135 Stratotankers from Eielson Air Force Base depart each day, providing fuel to as many as 18 aircraft in one mission for Northern Edge 2008.

The missions, flown by the Alaska Air National Guard's 168th Air Refueling Wing, deliver the fuel aircraft need to remain engaged in the realistic scenarios of Northern Edge.

"We're one of the keys to global reach and the global capability mission as a kind of gas station in the sky," said Col. Scott Wenke, the 168th ARW commander. "We take pride in being able to get fuel to anybody, anywhere."

The anybody, anywhere on any given day of the exercise can be an F-15 Eagle, F-16 Fighting Falcon, Marine F-18 Hornet or the Air Force's newest weapons system, the F-22 Raptor.

"The F-22s are my favorite aircraft to work with," said Staff Sgt. Christian Willey, a 168th ARW boom operator. "It's great being able to watch them 'crank and bank' after they've refueled."

The training is very beneficial, Sergeant Willey said.

An F-22 Raptor from the 3rd Wing at Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska, receives fuel from a KC-135 Stratotanker May 8 during Northern Edge 2008. The exercise, which began May 5 and concludes May 16, is designed to give Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Coast Guardsmen and Marines a chance to sharpen their skills prior to facing real-world combat scenarios. The KC-135 is part of the Alaska Air National Guard's 168th Air Refueling Wing from Eielson Air Force Base. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Mikal Canfield) More Military Pictures

"During a normal training flight, we might be in the air for five hours and have only one receiver. During Northern Edge missions, you could see four or five different receivers and each aircraft is different," he said. "Working with the different services and different airframes is excellent training. Plus, this is the best job ever. It's one of those jobs you wish everybody could experience."

Northern Edge 2008, which began May 5 and concludes May 16, is one of many exercises designed to give Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Coast Guardsmen and Marines a chance to sharpen their skills prior to facing a real-world combat scenario.

"We learned a hard lesson years ago that sending our young Airmen into combat without the proper training was not the way to do business," said Col. Wenke. "Northern Edge gives us a chance to learn from our mistakes by training in a combat scenario. This ensures we are ready before going into combat."

With more than 5,000 participants, Northern Edge is the largest military training exercise in Alaska. Helping to ensure the exercise is a success is something the Alaska Air National Guard Airmen take pride in, they said.

"It really gives us an opportunity to demonstrate the importance of tankers," said Sergeant Willey. "Plus, we are the main tanker unit in Alaska. It is our airspace in our backyard, but really it's a team effort -- everybody makes the mission possible."