126th Air Refueling Wing

The cargo hatch of a KC-135R Stratotanker displays a flag of the National Hockey League team the Chicago Blackhawks as the aircraft sits on the ramp March 29, 2016 at the 126th Air Refueling Wing, Scott Air For More

Lily Debleyzer, left, greets her father, Senior Airman Stephen Debleyzer, on his return home from a six month deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. The 126th Security Forces Squadron is a part of th More

Lt. Gen. Harry M. Wyatt III (left) officiates over the retirement ceremony of Maj. Gen. Thomas J. Haynes (seated), Air National Guard Assistant to the Commander, Air Mobility Command, at Scott Air Force Base, I More

A vehicle mounted Contingency Response Communications System (CRCS) sits operational behind the 126th Communications Flight, March 1, 2012. The CRCS is an internet based solution that allows first responders to More

The early morning sun lights up a memorial dedicated to the four 126th Air Refueling Wing aircrew members who perished in an aircraft accident 30 years ago. Maj. William S. Dixon, Jr., Capt. Kenneth L. Herrick, More

Airman Kevin O'Reilly, a crew chief assigned to U.S. Air Force aircraft 80104, a KC-135R Stratotanker, connects an inline pressure gauge to a nose gear tire, April 10, 2012. O'Reilly, from Laingsburg, Mich., is More

Maj. Andy Meyer, a KC-135R Stratotanker Pilot with the 108th Air Refueling Squadron, reviews his flight plan at Scott AFB, Ill., prior to an aerial refueling mission. The aircrews of the 108th ARS, assigned to More

Master Sgt. Jayme Laurent-Small helps her daughter, Jordyn, put together a marshmallow snowman at a craft table during the 126th Air Refueling Wing's Kid's Christmas Party. The Illinois Air National Guard unit, More

Lt. Gen. Darren McDew, 18th Air Force Commander, addresses Airmen of the 126th Air Refueling Wing, Scott Air Force Base, Ill., during a visit March 1, 2014. McDew toured the Illinois Air National Guard faciliti More

A KC-135R Stratotanker from the 126th ARW, an Illinois Air National Guard unit stationed at Scott Air Force Base, Ill., refuels a B-52 from Minot Air Force Base, N.D. KC-135R is a key piece of USSTRATCOM's glob More

Adm. Cecil D. Haney, commander, U.S. Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM), Offutt Air Force Base, Neb., received an orientation flight with the 126 ARW, an Illinois Air National Guard unit stationed at Scott Air Forc More

Lt. Col. Christine Blice-Baum, a 375th Air Mobility Wing chaplain, gives a short talk on grief during a memorial service for Capt. Brandon Cyr, a 906th Air Refueling Squadron pilot, at Scott Air Force Base, Ill More

Staff Sgt. Robert Bowman, a 375th Security Forces Squadron (SFS) K-9 handler, walks with his dog Breston during a demonstration at the 126th Air Refueling Wing facilities at Scott Air Force Base, Ill., April 28 More

Col. Richard Nyalka, the 126th Mission Support Group commander, relinquishes command from the Mission Support Group attached to the 126th Air Refueling Wing at Scott Air Force Base, Ill., May 3, 2014. Naylka wa More

Senior Master Sgt. Brad Hinkle, a member of the 126th Wing Inspection Team, evaluates how the 126th Maintenance Squadron responds to a simulated fuel spill during the 8010 nuclear mission exercise conducted on More

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Isha Bedenfield, a dental technician with the 126th Medical Group, Illinois Air National Guard, assists U.S. Navy Lt. Amanda Rice on an oral surgery procedure at Naval Air Facility Ats More

KC-135R Stratotankers at the 126th Air Refueling Wing stationed at Scott Air Force Base, Ill., taxi to their assigned parking spots during Exercise Vigilant Citizen on June 7, 2014. The 126th Air Refueling Win More

Members of the 108th and 906th Air Refueling Squadrons go over an aerial refueling flight mission plan before take-off at Scott Air Force Base, Ill., Aug. 1, 2014. As an Active Association squadron, the 906th w More

Second Lt. Doria Holland, from the 126th Force Support Squadron, washes her protective gloves at a decontamination station during the Expeditionary Skills Rodeo (ESR) at Scott Air Force Base, Ill., Sept. 6, 201 More

Army Maj. Gen. Daniel M. Krumrei, the 38th Adjutant General of the State of Illinois, presents the Air Force Oustanding Unit Award to the 126th Air Refueling Wing at Scott Air Force Base, Saturday, Oct. 4, 2014 More

A KC-135R Stratotanker from the 126th Air Refueling Wing, an Illinois Air National Guard unit stationed at Scott Air Force Base, Ill., refuels an F-16 from the Wisconsin Air National Guard. Both the KC-135R and More

Staff Sgt. Gary Mueller, a member of the 126th Operations Squadron, performs an air mask test on Capt. Brandon Eherenman, a pilot for the 126th Air Refueling Wing, during a Nuclear Operational Readiness Exercis More

Tech Sgt. Terry Kahrhoff, a crew chief for the 126th Maintenance Squadron attached to the 126th Air Refueling Wing, picks up tire chalks to move them out of the way of the incoming KC-135R Stratotanker at Scott More

First Lt. Rich Boehning, pilot for the 126th Operations Group, talks with Senior Master Sgt. Heather Braundmeier, the health promotion manager for the 126th Medical Group, in a processing line while out-process More

A fire team from the 126th Security Forces Squadron gets instructions on Domestic Ops/Active Shooter Response training at Scott Air Force Base, Ill., Feb. 8, 2015. The training was new for the 126th Air Refueli More

Col. Peter Nezamis, the commander of the 126th Air Refueling Wing, gives a speech at an award ceremony for Master Sgt. Nick Fonti, the Illinois Air National Guard First Sergeant of the Year and the first sergea More

Members of the 126th Logistics Readiness Squadron’s vehicle maintenance shop use snow plows to clear the parking ramp at Scott Air Force Base, Ill., Feb. 17, 2015. A winter storm hit the days prior leaving snow More

Lt. Gen. Carlton D. Everhart II, 18th Air Force commander, meets 126th Maintenance Squadron commander, Maj. Keith Benko, during a visit to the squadron March 7, 2015. The squadron is assigned to the 126th Air R More

Airman 1st Class Kaleb Hamann, left, and Master Sgt. Kurt Kleop, both members of the 126th Electrical Shop within the 126th Maintenance Squadron, work on the refueling boom of a KC-135R Stratotanker assigned to More

Maj. Michael Alblinger, a pilot for the 906th Air Refueling Squadron, and Capt. Mark Tisius, a pilot for the 108th Air Refueling Squadron, fly a KC-135R Stratotanker during a refueling mission April 15, 2015. T More

Members of the 126th Air Refueling Wing help each other put on their gas masks during the expeditionary skills rodeo at Scott Air Force Base, Ill., April 19, 2015. The rodeo trains the Illinois Air National Gua More

The 906th Air Refueling Squadron held an outdoor memorial walk at Scott Air Force Base, Ill., for Capt. Brandon Cyr on the second anniversary of his death, April 27, 2015. Capt. Cyr died in a plane crash in Afg More

Operation Homefront hosted a Growing Military Healthy Families event April 27, 2015, in Shiloh, Ill., at the Mid-America Readiness Center. The campaign includes military families from active duty, the reserves More

Senior Airman Corey Harter, a machine technologist for the 126th Maintenance Support Squadron, welds a chain back on a maintenance stand used on the KC-135 Stratotankers assigned to the 126th Air Refueling Wing More

Staff Sgt. Brian Muehling, a member of the 126th Aerospace Ground Equipment shop in the 126th Maintenance Squadron, power washes a maintenance stand at Scott Air Force Base, Ill., June 29, 2015. The maintenance More

Tech. Sgt. Justin Hudgins and Airman 1st Class Gwen Harrison, both members of the 126th sheet metal shop assigned to the 126th Maintenance Squadron, work on curving a piece of metal being use for a patch at Sco More

U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Allyssa Ridings, an ophthalmologist technician, gives an eye exam to a sailor at U.S. Naval Hospital, Naples, Italy, July 22, 2015. Illinois Air National Guardsmen from Scott Air Fo More

U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Wendell Becton, commander of 126th Medical Group, sees a sailor for an elbow injury at U.S. Naval Hospital, Naples, Italy, July 22, 2015. Illinois Air National Guardsmen from Scott Air F More

Staff Sgt. Haley Barlow re-files medical records at U.S. Naval Hospital, Naples, Italy, July 23, 2015. Illinois Air National Guardsmen from Scott Air Force Base are performing their two weeks of annual training More

Air Force Lt. Col. Pamela Fonti calibrates equipment in the audiology sound room at the U.S. Naval Hospital Naples, Italy, July 27, 2015. Illinois Air National Guardsmen from Scott Air Force Base are performing More

Civil engineers from 126th Air Refueling Wing work along side members of the Israeli Air Force to complete construction on new buildings on Nov. 4, 2015, at Hatzor Air Base, Israel. This was the first deployme More

Master Sgt. Johnson of the 126th Supply Chain Management Squadron reviews mission requirements during December UTA weekend on Dec 6, 2015 at Scott Air Force Base, Illinois. The Supply Chain Management Squadron More

Senior Airman John Bowers, a crew chief with the 906th Air Refueling Squadron, works on completing an end of section exam for the Crew Chief Advanced Troubleshooting Course, Dec. 14, 2015, at Scott Air Force Ba More

A 95th Fighter Squadron F-22 Raptor is refueled en route to Nellis Air Force Base by a KC-135 Stratotanker from the 126th Air Refueling Wing, Scott Air Force Base, Ill., Jan. 19. Twelve F-22s and more than 200 More

U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Don Landgrebe, commander of the 906th Air Refueling Squadron, walks with Col. Laura L. Lenderman, commander of the 375th Air Mobility Wing, through various maintenance group shops during More

U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Ryan Taylor of the 126th Maintenance Squadron deices a KC-135R Stratotanker at Scott Air Force Base, Ill., Feb. 8, 2016. KC-135R Stratotankers provide aerial refueling to U.S. militar More

Senior Airman Christopher Buccieri, a member of the Scott Air Force Base Honor Guard, stands by rifles used to give a salute during the funeral of Air Force Col. Barry W. Beard, Retired, April 2, 2016, at Jeffe More

Senior Airman Allyssa Ridings, 126th Medical Group ophthalmic technician, observes a wisdom tooth extraction during the 126 MDG annual training at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson Hospital June 7, 2016. (U.S. Ai More

An F-22 takes off during RED FLAG-Alaska 16-2 on June 8, 2016 at Joint Base Elmendorf Richardson. RF-Alaska is a Pacific Air Forces commander-directed field training exercise for U.S. and international forces, More

A KC-135R Stratotanker assigned to the 126th Air Refueling Wing at Scott Air Force Base, Ill., launches on a black letter flight Dec. 5, 2016. A black letter flight occurs when their are zero discrepancies or More

Members of the 126th Operations Group at Scott Air Force Base, Ill., organize toys to be delivered to St. Louis Children’s Hospital Dec. 20, 2016. The 126th Operations Group has conducted a toy drive for three More

Staff Sgt. Michael Raatz, radio frequency transmission manager assigned to the 126th Communications Flight at Scott Air Force Base, Ill., discusses personal finances with Certified Financial Planner Drew Weckba More

Master Sgt. Christopher A. Mertz of the 126th Security Forces Squadron, Scott Air Force Base, Ill., was selected as the Outstanding First Sergeant of the Year for 2017 for the 126th Air Refueling Wing.

Senior Master Sgt. Tina Jackson is the 126th Air Refueling Wing Senior NCO of the Year for 2017.

The 126th Air Refueling Wing hosts local educators during their 2017 Educator Flight at Scott Air Force Base, Ill., April 25, 2017. The orientation flight highlights opportunities in the Air National Guard and More

Members of the 126th Air Refueling Wing and the 906th Air Refueling Squadron gather around the memorial for Air Force Capt. Brandon Cyr to dedicate a moment of silence at Scott Air Force Base, Ill., April 27, 2 More

Members of the 126th Air Refueling Wing gather on the Air National Guard parking ramp at Scott Air Force Base, Ill., May 7, 2017, for a wing photo. Pictured in the front three rows, left to right, front to bac More

Members of the 126th Logistic Readiness Squadron prepare to assist the 126th Medical Group passengers in loading their luggage and professional equipment onto a KC-135R Stratotanker at Scott Air Force Base, Ill More

Airman 1st Class Kevin Heatherton, 126th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron crew chief, works on the landing gears of a KC-135R Stratotanker July 12, 2017, on Scott Air Force Base, Ill. Heatherton is part of an isoc More

Senior Airman Rodney Montgomery, 126th Civil Engineer Squadron heating, ventilation, and air conditioning apprentice, cuts insulation July 25, 2017, at a U.S. Army training facility in Fort Indiantown Gap, Pa. More

Staff Sgt. Joseph Eschbach, a structures technician, applies adhesive glue to a wall July 25, 2017, at a training facility in Fort Indiantown Gap, Pennsylvania. Members of 126th Civil Engineer Squadron are assi More

Staff Sgt. Jeremy Renth, 126th Civil Engineer Squadron heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration technician, cuts wood July 27, 2017 at a U.S. Army training facility in Fort Indiantown Gap, Pa. M More

Senior Airman Rodney Montgomery, 126th Civil Engineer Squadron heating, ventilation and air conditioning apprentice, trims wood July 27, 2017, at a training facility in Fort Indiantown Gap, Pa. Members of the 1 More

Members of the Air National Guard met in O'Fallon, Illinois from August 16-20, 2017, to participate in the 52nd Annual ANG Softball Tournament. The games were hosted by the 126th Air Refueling Wing, Illinois N More

Staff Sgt. Joshua Neal, a client system specialist with the 126th Communications Flight, checks an inventory list for equipment his team is taking to Puerto Rico to help with recovery of Hurricane Maria. The I More

A group of personnel from the 126th Security Forces Squadron gather for a team hand stack before boarding a bus to the flight line at Scott Air Force Base, Ill., Oct. 10, 2017. The Illinois Air National Guard s More

Members of the 933d Military Police Company begin loading equipment into a KC-135R Stratotanker at Scott Air Force Base, Illinois, November 4th, 2017. The 933d Military Police Company, Illinois Army National G More

U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Jeffery A. Dornin, 126th Air Refueling Wing Civil Engineer Squadron WFSM craftsman, solders on a copper fitting at Helemano Plantation, Wahiawa, Hawaii, May 25, 2018. (U.S. Air Force More

(from left) Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner presents a proclamation to the 126th Air Refueling Wing commander, Col. Jeffrey Jacobson, and 126th Air Refueling Wing Command Chief Master Sgt. Michael Douglas, June More

Military aircraft from the U.S., Spain and Poland fly in formation during Exercise Baltic Operations 2018 (BALTOPS) over the Baltic Sea, June 5, 2018. BALTOPS, the premier maritime-focused exercise in the Balti More

U.S. Air Force Airman First Class Jurne Smith-Traylor, a medical technician with the 126th Medical Group, practices suturing techniques June 7, 2018, at U.S. Navy Hospital Sigonella in Sicily. Members of of 126 More

Polish Air Force F-16s fly alongside a KC-135 Stratotanker assigned to the 126th Air Refueling Wing, Scott Air Force Base, Ill., during an aerial refueling mission in support of the 2018 Baltic Operations exerc More

Illinois Air National Guard Senior Master Sgt. Lewellyn Peters, 126th Air Refueling Wing quality insurance inspector, is welcomed home by his wife Senior Master Sgt. Kimberly Peters, 126th Air Refueling Wing qu More

Deployed service members from the 126th Air Refueling Wing return to Scott Air Force Base, Ill., Sept. 4, 2018. Guardsmen are routinely tasked to deploy around the globe in support of national defense and ongoi More

Illinois Air National Guard Col. Joshua Hendrix, 126th Maintenance Group commander, greets returning deployers as they step off the plane at Scott Air Force Base, Ill., Sept. 4, 2018. Guardsmen are routinely ta More

U.S. Airmen from the 126th Air Refueling Wing return from a deployment, Scott Air Force Base, Ill., Sept. 4, 2018. Guardsmen are routinely tasked to deploy around the globe in support of national defense and on More

Illinois Air National Guard Capt. Joram Smith, 126th Air Refueling Wing pilot, embraces his loved ones upon return from a deployment, Scott Air Force Base, Ill., Sept. 4, 2018. Guardsmen are routinely tasked to More

Lt. Gen. L. Scott Rice, Director of the Air National Guard, replaces his flight cap with a hard hat before entering a building undergoing renovations at Scott Air Force Base, Ill., Sept. 6, 2018. Rice toured th More

Lt. Gen. L. Scott Rice, Director of the Air National Guard, chats with airmen at the 126th Logistics Readiness Squadron, Scott Air Force Base, Ill., Sept. 6, 2018. Rice toured the 126th campus and met with diff More

Lt. Gen. L. Scott Rice, Director of the Air National Guard, speaks with airmen at the 126th Logistics Readiness Squadron, Scott Air Force Base, Ill., Sept. 6, 2018. Rice toured the 126th campus and met with dif More

Lt. Gen. L. Scott Rice, Director of the Air National Guard, receives a briefing from Lt. Col. Michael Mihalik, 126th Civil Engineer commander, on the renovations being made in the 126th Operations building, Sco More

Lt. Gen. L. Scott Rice, Director of the Air National Guard, is accompanied by Col. Jeffrey Jacobson, 126th Air Refueling Wing commander, and Chief Master Sgt. Michael Douglas, 126th ARW command chief, Scott Air More

Area clergy members see the 126th Air Refueling Wing mission firsthand during the 2018 Clergy Flight, Sept. 7, 2018 here at Scott Air Force Base, Ill. The attendees were nominated by wing members to participate More

Lt. Col Matthew Kopp, 126th Operations Group chief of standardization and evaluation, holds his son after returning from a deployment, Scott Air Force Base, Ill., Sept. 8, 2018. Guardsmen are routinely tasked t More

Master Sgt. Jeremiah Niemaczek, 126th Maintenance Squadron quality assurance technician, runs towards his family as they welcome him home at Scott Air Force Base, Ill., Sept. 8, 2018. Guardsmen are routinely ta More

Tech. Sgt. Westley Wieland, 126th Medical Group cardiopulmonary technician, leads the way during a 3K run, Sept. 9, 2018, at Scott Air Force Base, Ill. The 126th Air Refueling Wing hosted the run in honor of Su More

Members of the 126th Maintenance Group run together on the flight line during a 3K run at Scott Air Force Base, Ill., Sept. 9, 2018. The 126th Air Refueling Wing hosted the run in honor of Suicide Prevention Mo More

Airmen assigned to the 126th Air Refueling Wing participate in a 3K run Sept. 9, 2018 at Scott Air Force Base, Ill. The wing hosted the run in honor of Suicide Prevention Month. (U.S. Air National Guard photo b More

Members of the 126th Air Refueling Wing run on the flight line during a 3K run here at Scott Air Force Base, Ill., Sept. 9, 2018. The wing hosted the run in honor of Suicide Prevention Month. (U.S. Air National More

(from left) Senior Master Sgt. Christopher Mertz, 126th Air Refueling Wing first sergeant, and Col. Thomas Jackson, 126th Operations Group commander, participate in a 3K run Sept. 9, 2018, at Scott Air Force Ba More

The 126th Air Refueling Wing at Scott Air Force Base, Ill., hosted its quarterly orientation flight, Sept. 18, 2018. Attendees got to see firsthand an aerial refueling of a B-52. (U.S. Air National Guard photo More

Chief of Staff of U.S. Transportation Command, Maj. Gen. John C. Flournoy, expresses his appreciation to members of the 126th Maintenance Squadron for dedicating their time to working on the USTRANSCOM static b More

U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Steven J. Bleymaier, Director of Logistics, Engineering and Force Protection, Headquarters Air Mobility Command, greets Master Sgt. Salvador Silva, 126th Security Forces Squadron Opera More

Master Sgt. Angelica Knecht, a medical technician with the 126th Medical Group, practices Tactical Casualty Combat Care procedures at Navy Medical Center Portsmouth, Va., April 9, 2019. The 38 member Air Nation More

U.S. Navy Hospital Corpsman Charles Hanson, third from right, explains reading the wet bulb globe temperature meter to, from right, Airman Morgan Burmeister, Airman Brianna Avitia, and Airman Emma Booth at Navy More

Senior Airman Nicholas Swanson, a dental technician, practices dental procedures on casts at Branch Health Clinic Naval Station Norfolk. The Illinois Air National Guardsman, from the 126th Air Refueling Wing, i More

Honor Guardsmen present colors for the 906th Air Refueling Squadron change of command. Lt. Col Christopher E. Schlachter Sr. relinquished command of the 906th ARS to Lt. Col Kurt C. Wampole Jr., in a ceremony h More

The Honorable Mark W. Eckert (left), mayor of Belleville, Ill., and his wife, Rita Eckert, discuss the newly opened 126th Operations Group facility with Scott Russell, an aide from Rep. Mark Bost's office at Sc More

Staff Sgt. Alexandra Fernando takes filled sandbags from the sandbag machine and puts them in the bulldozer. The bulldozer, once its bucket is full, will drop off the sandbags in a central location for levee te More

Military Legislative Assistant for Illinois Senator Tammy Duckworth, Mr. Matt Lampert, is welcomed to the 126th Air Refueling Wing by commander Col. Jeffery W. Jacobson and Command Chief Master Sgt. Michael R. More