917th FG prepares for first combat deployment

Staff Sgt Terrance Smothers, an A-10 Thunderbolt II weapons loader assigned to the 917th Fighter Group, from Barksdale Air Force Base, La., positions an ammunition loader to replenish 30mm bullets on the A-10 while deployed to Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, Aug. 2, 2011. Approximately 100 members of the 917th FG deployed to Alaska to prepare for an upcoming Air and Space Expeditionary rotation. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Senior Master Sgt. Jessica D'Aurizio)

917th FG prepares for first combat deployment

Master Sgt. Mike Duell, Senior Airman Cody Burt and Master Sgt. Vincent Allen, all A-10 Thunderbolt II weapons loaders, replenished 30mm rounds in an A-10 while deployed to Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, Aug. 2, 2011. The Airmen are assigned to the 917th Fighter Group, Barksdale Air Force Base, La. Approximately 100 members of the 917th FG deployed to Alaska to prepare for an upcoming Air and Space Expeditionary rotation. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Senior Master Sgt. Jessica D'Aurizio)

917th FG prepares for first combat deployment

1st Lt. Dave Knighton, an A-10 Thunderbolt II pilot assigned to the 917th Fighter Group at Barksdale Air Force Base, La., checks his aircraft prior to flight while deployed to Eielson AFB, Alaska. Approximately 100 members of the 917th FG deployed to Alaska to prepare for an upcoming Air and Space Expeditionary rotation. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Master Sgt. Jessica D'Aurizio)

917th FG prepares for first combat deployment

Lt. Col. Mark Olson, an A-10 Thunderbolt II pilot assigned to the 917th Fighter Group from Barksdale Air Force Base, La., prepares for a flight while deployed to Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska. Approximately 100 members of the 917th FG deployed to Alaska to prepare for an upcoming Air and Space Expeditionary rotation. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Master Sgt. Jessica D'Aurizio)

917th FG trains for deployment

Some 917th Fighter Group maintenance personnel from Barksdale Air Force Base, La., load live Mk-82 weapons on an A-10 Thunderbolt II while deployed to Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, in July 2011. Approximately 150 Airmen assigned to the 917th FG were in Alaska training for an upcoming air and space expeditionary forces rotation. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Senior Master Sgt. Jessica D'Aurizio)

917th FG trains for deployment

Technical Sgt. Curtiss Miles, an A-10 Thunderbolt II crew chief assigned to the 917th Maintenance Squadron, tries to identify a hydraulic leak while Senior Airman Brooke Simon, a Unit Public Affairs Representative gets information for a photo cutline while deployed to Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, in July 2011. Approximately 150 Airmen assigned to the 917th Fighter Group from Barksdale Air Force Base, La., were in Alaska training for an upcoming air and space expeditionary forces rotation. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Master Sgt. Jessica Daurizio)