Accurate And Fast
I woke up and went straight to the flight line. The workdays lasted twelve to fourteen hours. They went by fast, though, because we were doing so much. We loaded five or six jets per crew. The jets often returned empty and that was a great feeling for us because we knew we had done our job. We have to be accurate and fast. We follow the tech data and make sure it is done right.
     — SrA. Katie Bowling

On The Ground
Once on the ground, we got off and the cargo was unloaded. The medical teams would come out to the airplane with the patients and brief us on their status. We determined the priority patients and where to place them on the aircraft. We then assigned medical teams to patients. Then we would button up and get going. After that, we settled in for a long flight, monitored patient care, and made decisions about offloading.
     — Maj. Tom Hanson

Cooperative Airlift
The C-17 guys helped us with tactics, and we all provided community lessons learned. A lot of the C-17 pilots are former C-141 drivers.
     — Capt. Avi Perras

Not Graceful
The EP-3 is much heavier than a P-3. Actually, it is a little bit of a pig. We have to fly slower, and the airframe has a number of flight restrictions. After a takeoff on a very hot day, we had to stay at 500 feet altitude for two miles before we could gain altitude. People on the ground probably thought we were showing off.
     — Lt. (j.g.) Nicholas Boyter

Close To Ground
When I heard that targets we passed on to the ground guys had been destroyed, I knew we had saved some Coalition lives from having to deal with those threats. Knowing that one less opposition force that had to be dealt with was the closest I got to the ground guys.
     — Lt. (j.g.) Thomas Louden

Comfort Counts
The first night we wore everything—flak jackets, helmets, radios, etc. After strapping all that stuff on, we'd avoid the coffee. After the first couple of nights, we stopped. We couldn't move. We couldn't wear all that stuff and work.
     — Maj. Bruce Taylor

Most Successful
The Block 50/52 F-16 is the most successful fighter around. Commanders appreciate the aircraft's wide range of ordnance and outstanding capability.
     — Capt. Quentin Esser

Solving Problems
ASOC handed me over to a TACP in the Najaf area. The weather wasn't great and the Army guys on the ground were taking fire from a building. They were more concerned about our not hitting a nearby mosque and wanted me to come in on a nonoptimal axis. I told them I wanted a different axis for their protection and that I wouldn't hit the mosque. I executed the attack, put the GBU-12 on the building, and solved their problem. Working directly with the guys on the ground is quite an experience. You want to make sure you get it right.
     — Maj. Akshai Gandhi