Mali, France, C-17, USAFE, AFAFRICA

ISTRES, France – French troops prepare for take-off inside a U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster III cargo aircraft in Istres, France, Jan. 21, 2013. France deployed military to the African country of Mali to fight forces who threaten the current Mali government's stability and are relying on assistance from allies in transporting troops and supplies. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Nathanael Callon/Released)

Mali, France, C-17, USAFE, AFAFRICA

ISTRES, France - French soldiers march to a U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster III in support of missions in the Republic of Mali. The United States has agreed to help France airlift troops and equipment into Mali. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman James Richardson/Released)

Loading equipment

ISTRES, France – U.S. Airmen load French military vehicles into a U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster III cargo aircraft here Jan. 23, 2013. The Air Force aircraft are transporting French troops and equipment to Mali in support of French operations in the country. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Nathanael Callon) (Released)

Ready for take-off

ISTRES, France -- A U.S. Air Force Airman from the 621st Contingency Response Wing looks on as a U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster III cargo aircraft taxis onto a loading ramp here Jan. 22, 2013. The U.S. pledged support to the French military for their operations in Mali, and provided C-17s and Airmen for logistical support. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Nathanael Callon) (Released)

Words of wisdom

PAPA AIR BASE, Hungary -- Chief Master Sgt. Craig A. Adams, U.S. Air Forces in Europe and U.S. Air Forces Africa command chief, addresses a crowd of U.S. Airmen here during a base visit Jan. 7, 2013. The command chief thanked the Airmen for their contributions to the Heavy Airlift Wing. The chief visited the base to meet with the multi-national team and U.S. Airmen. U.S. AIr Force Photo by Capt. William Russell

COMUSAFE shares his thoughts

PAPA AIR BASE, Hungary -- Gen. Philip M. Breedlove, U.S. Air Forces in Europe and Air Forces Africa commander, addresses U.S. Airmen here about the importance of being a sensor when it comes to preventing sexual assaults and suicides during a base visit Jan. 7, 2013. The general visited the base to meet with the multi-national team and U.S. Airmen assigned to the Heavy Airlift Wing. U.S. AIr Force Photo by Capt. William Russell

Explaining the mission

RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany -- Gabriel J. Myers, U.S. Air Forces Africa public affairs planner, explains how U.S. AFAFRICA accomplishes its varried mission to 12 members of the Niger and Burkina Faso media during a media visit here Nov. 28. The visit was part of U.S. African Command’s public information initiative. U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. James M. Hodgman

Warm welcome

RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany -- Maj. Gen. Stephen D. Schmidt, Special Assistant to the Commander for United States Air Forces in Europe, welcomes members of the Niger and Burkina Faso media here Nov. 28 during a visit to Headquarters United States Air Forces Africa. The media visit was part of U.S. African Command’s public information initiative. U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. James M. Hodgman

COMUSAFE, Command Chief address the command

United States Air Forces in Europe and Air Forces Africa Commander Gen. Philip M. Breedlove addresses USAFE headquarters staff during his first USAFE-AFAFRICA All Call at Ramstein Air Base Nov. 13. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Caitlin O'Neil-McKeown)

Strategic Airlift Capability Conference

Col. Keith Boone, Heavy Airlift Wing Commander, and Dr. Gyula Keszthelyi, the chief of host nation support with the Hungarian MOD, cut a cake commemorating the achievement of full operational capability for the Heavy Airlift Wing at Papa AB, Hungary. The ceremony occurred at a Strategic Airlift Capability Steering and Program Board meeting Nov. 14, 2012, in Tallinn, Estonia. (U.S. Air Force photo/Capt. Michael Hertzog)

Strategic Airlift Capability Conference

Col. Keith Boone, Heavy Airlift Wing Commander, and Dr. Gyula Keszthelyi, the chief of host nation support with the Hungarian MOD, cut a cake commemorating the achievement of full operational capability for the Heavy Airlift Wing at Papa AB, Hungary. The ceremony occurred at a Strategic Airlift Capability Steering and Program Board meeting Nov. 14, 2012, in Tallinn, Estonia. (U.S. Air Force photo/Capt. Michael Hertzog)

Polish AvDet Activates

LASK AIR BASE, Poland -- U.S. Air Force Col. David Lyons, left, 52nd Operations Group commander passes a guidon to Maj. Matthew Spears, 52nd OG Detachment 1 commander during an Aviation Detachment(AV DET) activation ceremony on the flightline of Lask Air Base, Poland, Nov. 9, 2012. Spears is the first commander of the AV DET in Poland, which will facilitate bilateral and eventually multinational joint training exercises while optimizing the use of Poland's ranges and airspace and enhancing interoperability of both countries' flight tactics and maneuvers . The AV DET will be an enduring presence with 10 Airmen, but F-16 and C-130 crews and aircraft will rotate periodically for training, where the total number of personnel could surge up to 250. The AV DET supports Poland's continued defense modernization and standardization with the U.S. and North Atlantic Treaty Organization. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Gustavo Castillo/Released)