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Tanker partners broaden global strike capabilities

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Shannon Bowman
  • 6th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs

When carrying out the nation’s top mission, there is no room for failure. The nation relies on the capabilities of its armed forces to ensure that freedoms endure.

Strategic deterrence is the responsibility of Airmen from each of the Air Force’s major commands and Air Mobility Command’s role is to deliver rapid global mobility. Mobility Airmen step up every day to contribute to the high-end fight.

Through precise training, the Airmen of the 6th and the 927th Air Refueling Wings, stationed at MacDill Air Force Base, Florida, remain ready to deter near peer adversaries.

“U.S. national security is underpinned by the strength of our nuclear deterrence,” said Lt. Col. Scott Korell, the 6th Operations Support Squadron commander. “It is our duty as America’s security blanket to prioritize this most critical mission first and above all other assigned missions and tasks.”

According to Korell, through their professionalism, the Airmen at MacDill are able to execute the vital mission of securing the third leg of the nuclear triad.

For MacDill’s aircrews and maintainers, providing support to strategic deterrence efforts is second nature. By applying their skills these Airmen ensure that MacDill’s KC-135 Stratotankers are able to taxi and take off to provide unmatched air refueling and extend the capabilities of America’s strategic fleet.

“Tankers extend the reach of strategic nuclear strikes by B-52 and B-2 aircraft and provide recallable airborne options to decision makers during times of escalating world tensions,” said Korell.  “Every day our warfighters demonstrate our strength, resilience and lethality to our adversaries watching our every strategic move.”

Supporting the national deterrence strategy remains MacDill’s top priority, and the Airmen from the 6th and the 927th are ready to execute AMC’s mission of delivering rapid global mobility.

“No matter where, no matter when the mobility Airmen at MacDill will continue to stand ready, to deter aggression from our adversaries,” said Col. Steve Snelson, the 6th ARW commander.