Two Spanish Navy Harriers fly behind a U.S. Marine KC-130J aircraft from Special-Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Crisis Response-Africa during an aerial-refueling exercise off the coast of Spain May 15, 2015. The aerial-refueling capabilities of the KC-130J greatly extend the range and flight times of NATO aircraft. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Paul Peterson/Released)

A French fighter aircraft rolls left away from a KC-135 Stratotanker flown by the 351st Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron during a March 17, 2013, mission.

A French fighter aircraft refuels from a KC-135 Stratotanker flown by the 351st Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron during a March 17, 2013, mission.

(Left to right) Senior Airman Michael Warren and Tech. Sgt. Michael Mackey, both with the 100th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, review maintenance logs and the flight plan with 1st Lt. John Lachiewicz and Capt. Tim Gerne, both with the 351st Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron, prior to their flight on March 17, 2013.

First Lt. John Lachiewicz and Capt. Tim Gerne, both 351st Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron, bank their KC-135 Stratotanker toward the runway after a March 17, 2013, refueling mission.

KC-135 Stratotanker boom operator Senior Airman Michael Danilowski, assigned to the 351st Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron, performs air refueling on a French fighter aircraft, February 15, 2013. The 351st EARS is comprised of members of the 100th Air Refueling Wing, RAF Mildenhall, England, who deployed to a forward operating location in southwest Europe, Jan. 26, 2013. The 351st EARS began flying refueling missions on Jan. 27, 2013, to refuel French fighter aircraft conducting operations in Mali.

ROYAL AIR FORCE MILDENHALL, England -Cooperation was paramount Dec. 8 as 30 Royal Danish Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcons took to the skies over their homeland to rendezvous with a RAF Mildenhall-based KC-135 Stratotanker and perform semi-annual aerial refueling training.

ZADAR, Croatia - As special operations forces personnel conduct tactical missions, they are reliant on various aerial assets to insert them on the battlefield without hesitation. Both rotary and fixed-wing pilots are responsible for getting the troops on the ground, but the pilots also must work and train together to ensure they are fueled to stay in the air and maintain their range near the fight.