JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska

An Air Force C-130 aircraft taxies onto the runway in preparation for takeoff during exercise Polar Force 13-3 at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richards, Alaska, April 7. The readiness exercise is designed to validate the wing's ability to integrate, mobilize, and prepare assigned personnel, aircraft and equipment for their wartime mission and to employ forces and weapons systems to perform the tasked missions. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Blake Mize)

JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska

An Air Force C-130 takes off during exercise Polar Force 13-3 at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richards, Alaska, April 7. The readiness exercise is designed to validate the wing's ability to integrate, mobilize, and prepare assigned personnel, aircraft and equipment for their wartime mission and to employ forces and weapons systems to perform the tasked missions. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Blake Mize)

C-130 aircrews support remote radar sites

A forklift off-loads supply pallets from a C-130 Hercules at Cape Romanzof, Alaska, Dec. 4. Cape Romanzof is a radar site which is part of the North Warning System, a 2,983-mile long and 199-mile wide "tripwire" stretching from Alaska, through Canada, to Southern Labrador. The radar sites cannot operate without these resupply missions, as many of the sites have no roads in or out. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech Sgt. Brian Ferguson)

C-130 aircrews support remote radar sites

Master Sgt. Jason Allen, right, and Airman 1st Class Andrew Thompson fill out paperwork after delivering three supply pallets to Cape Romanzof, Alaska, Dec. 4. Cape Romanzof is a radar site which is part of the North Warning System, a 2,983-mile long and 199-mile wide "tripwire" stretching from Alaska, through Canada, to Southern Labrador. The radar sites cannot operate without these resupply missions, as many of the sites have no roads in or out. Allen and Thompson are C-130 Hercules loadmasters assigned to the 537th Airlift Squadron. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech Sgt. Brian Ferguson)

C-130 aircrews support remote radar sites

Airman 1st Class Andrew Thompson waits for pallets at the ramp of a C-130 Hercules aircraft at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, Dec. 4. Thompson is a loadmaster assigned to the 537th Airlift Squadron. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech Sgt. Brian Ferguson)

C-130 aircrews support remote radar sites

Airman 1st Class Andrew Thompson checks the pallet locks while preflighting a C-130 Hercules aircraft at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, Dec. 4. Thompson is a loadmaster assigned to the 537th Airlift Squadron. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech Sgt. Brian Ferguson)