SrA. Victoria Drefs, a technician with the 376th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron’s Petroleum, Oils, and Lubricants Flight, on Dec. 26 reached the milestone of pumping two million gallons of fuel into KC-135 tankers during her four-month deployment to Manas AB, Kyrgyz Republic. That’s no small feat given the harsh winter conditions of working on open and unprotected flight lines this time of year at Manas, and the fact that KC-135 operations are about half the pace maintained during summer months. “She’s the epitome of what today’s airmen can do” said MSgt. Cleven Allen, 376th ELRS fuels superintendent, adding, “She’s every supervisors dream come true.” Lt. Gen Gary North, Air Forces Central commander, met Drefs on the historic day at the receiver aircraft and presented her with a commander coin. Drefs, a native of Armour, S.D., deployed from Aviano AB, Italy, is expected to be the first and likely only technician in her crew of 37 to reach the milestone during this deployment. The two million gallons went into 464 aircraft. One month prior to her landmark feat, Drefs was one of two deployed airmen to receive a Thanksgiving Day morale call from President Bush. (Manas report by SMSgt. Patrick J. McCracken)
In the wake of a major Chinese military shakeup, the head of U.S. Space Command warned of China’s “breathtakingly fast” advances in space during visits to Japan and South Korea. Gen. Stephen N. Whiting’s trip to the Indo-Pacific is his first overseas visit since taking command of SPACECOM in January.