Airmen assigned to the 728th Air Mobility Squadron prepare for takeoff in a KC-135 Stratotanker at Incirlik Air Base, Turkey, before deploying to Southwest Asia in support of Operation Allies Refuge, Aug. 20, 2021. Their deployment supports the U.S. military’s mission, directed by the President of the United States, to facilitate the safe, expedient evacuation of U.S. citizens, Special Immigrant Visa applicants and other at-risk Afghans out of Afghanistan. Thanks to its strategic location, Incirlik AB serves as a power projection platform, supporting operations in both the U.S. European Command and U.S. Central Command areas of responsibility. The 728th AMS advances effective and flexible global mobility operations by providing expertise in aerial port operations, aircraft maintenance, and command and control. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Derek Seifert)