Happy New Year 2022

Where do I start with summarizing the entirety of 2021? The last post I wrote here on my blog was at the end of 2020 and for a new beginning of 2021. Well here we are, at the end of 2021 and what a new beginning it has become. I’m truly looking forward to 2022 and continuing this journey that has taken place this past year. Let’s dive in – there is a lot!

2021 was a loss of love, yet a beginning of another – let me explain. The beginning of this past year was tough for me; it was tough for Marilyn; it was tough for our children. At a certain point the previous year, we decided to go our separate ways, because what we were doing wasn’t working. I truly feel, once trust is lost, it is hard (yet not impossible) to be gained back from the perspective of both sides. At the time, it seemed pretty bleak – I had once again ruined a marriage. A woman whom I had known for quite some time came to Hawaii to visit in early March and wow – a heart changing moment was right in front of me. I would end up marrying this woman, Samantha Rae, on September 6^th of this year, but I’m jumping way too far ahead here!

My current occupation and the adventure it’s provided has been nothing more than amazing this past year, even through this continued Covid bleeeeeeeeeep…..something that we thought back in March 2020 would be done and over in 2-3 weeks if we could just ‘flatten the curve.’ Yet here we are, nearly 2 years later still trying to get back to some normalcy of life. It hasn’t been all bad, I was given the amazing opportunity to work fully remote and I am doing so from my home in Las Vegas, Nevada and enjoying every moment of it. I have had a couple work trips this year and two scheduled for 2022. I was in Alaska – back to previous base I was assigned to, Eielson Air Force Base outside of Fairbanks for a week to complete an infrastructure assessment for the base’s fuels systems and for a fuels related conference in Washington DC. This coming year, I have trips planned for Andersen Air Base in Guam and Kadena Air Base on the island of Okinawa in Japan. I thank my employer, Encore Support Systems and its leader Ms. Kay for your leadership, for your kindness, for your compassion, for your support through these past 2 plus years and hope to continue on far into the future.

Last year, I stated I wanted to get out and travel more, and even with what’s going on in our world, I have been able to do so and would like that to continue in 2022. This past year, Samantha and I have taken trips to Seattle, Utah, Washington DC, Michigan, Oklahoma and back and forth from Hawaii to Las Vegas before I made the move here in June. We went and saw Toby Keith, Chris Jansen, Lainey Wilson, and Jason Aldean. I’m certainly looking forward to more traveling and concerts this coming year!

I married my best friend here on September 6^th and along with that gained 4 amazing bonus daughters, Payton(9), Noel(7), Emma(6), and Makenna(4)…..to say I have my hands full is an UNDERSTATEMENT, but I completely and totally love it! This year has been one of following my heart and not concerning myself the negativity and pessimism out there. Life is way too short not to be happy. I have made many mistakes in this life, but I hope and wish to move forward making far fewer mistakes and certainly not making the same missteps over again. I want to continue pushing my wife to follow her dreams; she will be finishing her associate’s degree in early education this spring and continuing on with her bachelors program at the University of Nevada – Las Vegas in the fall with the aspiration of becoming a kindergarten teacher. I don’t tell her nearly enough how very proud of her I am, but I truly am; she deserves this long awaited opportunity to chase her dreams; I’m honored to be by her side through it. As a teacher-as many know-it’s not for the money; it’s for the love of children. These children will become our nation’s future doctors and lawyers, and forthcoming Presidents of the United States, and military members, and teachers and so so many more professions out there. Our teachers are truly this country’s unsung heroes, so yea…..she’s got my utmost respect and dedication to see her dreams through.

Marilyn and I are in a good place; she’s got a great guy in her life; Josh treats our daughters with the utmost respect and I am truly thankful for that. Samantha surprised me with an unexpected trip to Oklahoma to be with my Norah Belle on her 4^th birthday and I couldn’t have been more thankful. It was only a couple weeks ago, as her birthday is the 18^th of December, so I am still smiling and running through my head how happy Norah and Avery were to see daddy!

I still have so many aspirations for this upcoming year and beyond with both my professional and personal life. Last year, I stated I wanted to get back in and pursue my Master’s degree. Something that I looked into over this past year, but truly has not been my focus and I don’t know that it ever will be. I graduated with an associates in Logistics Management in 2007 and a bachelor’s degree in Human Resource Development in 2015; I am more than pleased with that, I am proud of my accomplishments in the education realm as well as my 23 year military career and what that has provided me to get me to the amazing profession that I am in at this moment, continuing to serve my country in a different capacity.  I am still a lifetime learner and want to continue to grow, but in different ways. I am pursuing my Project Management Certification and feel I should be able to test to a successful completion by June of this coming year. I have also started a 20 module program to become certified as a Nevada Veterans Advocate. I really want this year to be one of helping veterans; whether that be with our young men and women searching out the pros and cons of joining a branch of the military, active duty with concerns on continuing their service, separating/retiring members, veterans who have been out some time yet still need some guidance. This going from military to civilian life is much harder than many believe. It’s not a just a job that you just switch and move on from. It’s truly a lifestyle and sometimes feels like you’re making a complete break from your troops, from your responsibilities to this nation, to life as you’ve known for however long you served. I woke up daily and would eat, drink, and breathe military life because that’s what I knew. Even 2 plus years later, I still struggle with certain aspects. I am grateful to my military service and even more appreciative that I still have a small part in the forward momentum of our troops in the career field that I grew up in. This year and forward, I want to be that advocate and support veterans in any aspect that I am able to do so. Let me rephrase, I want to campaign for those who have or are going to serve; you can ask many if they are a “veteran” and some will say no, but ask how many have “served” and you will see the pride swell for a job well done. I think I write a pretty good resume, so if you need assistance with that, whether you’ve been in the military or not, I offer my services!

Personally, I have some goals this year as well. First and foremost, I want to be a better husband and a better dad (of 8 crazy kids; well 1 ADULT and 7 cray cray kids!!). I have a lot to learn in that aspect and I’m certainly dedicated to putting in the work to make that a reality. Something else I’ve always wanted to do; I’ve always wanted to roast my own coffee. So, I am saving to buy the equipment for that – don’t be alarmed if I put out a call for free coffee samples as I get it up and running(possible future small coffee roasting business?!) And finally, home ownership is always something I look forward to again, though I don’t believe it will be this year; I look forward to the day that I can carry my bride over the threshold in our own home once more.

I’m going to finish up this blog with a few photos of this past year. I want to wish you all a very happy 2022; I hope life continues to gain some normalcy this coming year and that you follow your hearts and dreams and aspirations. Life isn’t about being perfect; it is however about treating each other with dignity and respect. As I get further in this life, that’s what I want to afford and someday leave behind as my legacy. My friends, I don’t want to take a political stand (too much of one), but I do want to send my own thoughts of caution. Many will agree; I’m sure many will not. But think of this, President John F. Kennedy stated at his inaugural speech on January 20, 1961 “And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you — ask what you can do for your country.” We really need to get back to that sentiment – yes, our country has provided much needed support where needed these past two years. But I reiterate, “Where needed.” I implore you to go out and read this entire speech as it bears so much of what’s happening in our world and country today, even some 61 years later. It’s time for us to step back up and take our lives back. At this point, many of our state and federal government officials have a tactic of far more control in our lives than is needed, desired, or wanted; whether that be with shutting businesses down, requiring us to show “papers” to be admitted to events, limiting travel or making it difficult to do so. This sometimes reminds me of my time in the military, hurry up and wait & reprimand the masses for the actions of few. Instead of taking personal accountability (staying home when sick, doing what we as individual citizens can do) we are letting the government dictate what we will, should, and won’t do. To that end, on today, this first day of yet another new year, I wish you a blessed, healthy, and prosperous 2022. Until my next blog, the journey continues……….
 
 
My Blog History
www.leewatros.com
 
JFK’s full inaugural speech
https://www.ushistory.org/documents/ask-not.htm
 
Syracuse University Onward to Opportunity – IT and Project Management Programs (free for Veterans)
https://ivmf.syracuse.edu/programs/career-training/getting-started/
 
Nevada Veterans Advocates (NVAs) Program
https://veterans.nv.gov/community/veterans-advocacy/
 
If you want to know more about coffee roasting OR help me with my coffee roasting aspirations J
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EO_YpdhJ5DA
https://thecaptainscoffee.com/collections/roasters/products/fresh-roast-sr800

HAPPY 2022 EVERYONE!

Happy New Year 2021

2020 - I am so glad you are done and over! Here's hoping to a better 2020. My first recollection of the year started on February 20; this was the day that my mom passed away. She sure did miss a crazy up and down year!  Then, in mid-March, the world seemed to completely fall apart with Covid 19 - or as our President likes to call it - The China Virus. This has taken up most of most of our everyday worries in most of our lives. Will we or our families catch it; will it affect our work, or livelihood, the states we live in. There are many yes's in that one question for many people. Myself and my immediate family, we have been spared much of this. We have kept healthy here in Hawaii; I have been working at home almost exclusively and that's sure to continue at least through the first quarter of 2021. Only within the past couple months have I been going into my office on Hickam once a week. Since March 20th, I have been in my office a total of 13 times!!

Though this has been a crazy year, there have been some upsides to the year as well. I'm excelling in my position with Encore, we have been spending more time as a family, I have made two trips to Michigan, and I've continued working on my running along with a few other projects that I have in the works for 2021.Even had a couple dates with my sweetheart - we got off the island for an 8 hour deep sea fishing trip; though we only caught one, it was a tasty fish afterwards!

All of the runs that I have ran this year have been virtual, but challenging none the less. Most of them have been larger miles that I have completed over the month. Two that come to mind was Miles for Memphis, a 50 mile run for charity, and a Vietnam Memorial Run, 58 miles representing the memory of the 58,000 names on the Vietnam Wall, and a Social Distancing 5K that Avery and I completed in July out on Ford Island. In addition, I ran just shy of 400 miles throughout the year. I have to say; one of my greatest mentors these past couple years, my final deployed commander, Lt Col Kellie Courtland - she has been an amazing motivation for me to continue to run this past year.  December was tough for me as I was battling a sore ankle most of the month and there were times I didn't know that I'd finish the 58 miles for the Vietnam Remembrance Run; thank you Kellie!  Thank you for continuing to support and push me!  On to more runs with you in 2021, even if only virtual for awhile longer!  We'll get one in together when the world is finally right again!  I appreciate you! 

I've always stated, I don't do resolutions. I do have goals, but I don't specifically resonate with a New Year’s resolution. I have always strived to get to 1,000 miles running and yet I have never gotten there - so that is one that continues to allude me!  But this year, I am going to work towards my journey towards 1,000 miles and I'll blog on that journey as I go. The catch, I am going to count all of my miles towards my goal - walking, running, hiking, all of it!  Avery and I have a goal of hiking out to specific sites on Oahu - I'll write more along with our photos once we finish. I'll give you a hint as I don't feel it will take us too long - there are only 6 of these "structures" on the island of Oahu!  One of them has two trails to get there, so it will be 7 separate "hikes."  We are excited to share this experience once that journey is completed!!

A couple other things up my sleeve this year is to work more on my specialized wood working - more to come on that at some point, you'll love it as its going to be a one of a kind type of product!! This year, I'd also like to take my hobby of photography to the next level. I'm soon going to offer anyone I know who is here on Oahu or anyone who's visiting and wants photos taken, the opportunity for a FREE session with edited photos to be delivered afterwards. There are so many great photo locations here on Oahu; why not capitalize on it!  This will give those who wish to have some great photo memories, and me the chance to better my craft, and build my portfolio. More to come on this soon as well!!! Just gotta make the time to get these "hobbies" up and off the ground!

I plan on spending more time with my family, but also to get away for a bit as well!  Work wise, it looks like the only trip that may be a possibility in 2021 will be to the island of Okinawa, Japan. I would like to set off and travel for my personal sanity as well - maybe a trip to Vegas to sit on the craps tables, a trip to Washington to visit a good friend of mine, and Michigan is always on the table for a great trip! As a family, we'd like to get out and explore more within the Hawaiian island chain - potentially a trip to Maui for a whale watching tour may be just what we need this winter!

The one thing that I most certainly miss......my mom ALWAYS made it a point to call me, no matter where I was, no matter what time it was where I was at - all to wish me a Happy New Year.  It was typically only a couple minute phone call and she'd leave it with "I'll be sleeping when it's midnight there." I would always make it a point to wake her back up at the turn of my New Year!  I know you're out there somewhere mom, Happy New Year!  Love you......

Here's my hope; I hope 2021 is a much better year than 2020 has been. I hope that my family and I continue to be healthy and happy. I hope to be able to network with old friends that are still in the military and help with their upcoming transition. I am also looking to switch up schools and really work towards my master’s degree as well; as much as I'm not looking forward to that, I know I need to continue working that aspect. I hope that we continue making life better for POL troops at the bases we have around the Pacific. My hope is that you have some gratitude from this past year; though we can't completely write off 2020, my hope is that you found some good in 2020 somewhere, anywhere and are able to carry it into the New Year. As the sun sets on 2020, I truly hope you, my friends, my family, have safe, successful, and healthy days ahead. We are a resilient bunch- we'll keep moving down the road into 2021! 

 HAPPY 2021 EVERYONE!

Post Military Career - Joint Base Pearl Harbor Hickam, Honolulu, Hawaii

There you have it friends. I have effectively summed up a 23 year career, my Air Force journey, in a matter of 15 blog posts. But as I told you before, the journey certainly continues! I started writing my thoughts down on July 31st of 2017 on my 21st anniversary in the Air Force. I most definitely didn't expect it would take 3 and a half years to chronicle through my time in this great profession. It was great reminiscing through the years, trying to remember what I could from each assignment, and knowing that I forgot much more than I actually put down on paper. Throughout the coming months and years, I plan on writing more about specific memories or subjects as they come to me! Before I forget even more haha! Just know, even as a civilian now – I am still a POL troop through and through!

Continuing on, I retired from the United States Air Force effective 31 October 2019 in the grade of Senior Master Sergeant (E-8). I held my retirement ceremony on August 9th and officially signed out of Nellis, wearing my uniform for the final time on August 16th, 2019. During the lead up to my retirement, I was in talks with the company that I work for today, Encore Support Systems and was hired on as a Fuels Subject Matter Expert in June of 2019 with the expectation that I would be in my future location and start working in September. I had originally interviewed and hired on for a position at Tyndall Air Force Base in Panama City, Florida. However, I was given the opportunity to come out to Hawaii instead! This was blessing as much of my wife's family lives here on Oahu. I started working in an office in a very historical building on Hickam Air Force Base, just outside of Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaii. I am currently the PACAF Fuels SRM/RMMR Program Manager working new and repair projects all over the Pacific with the PACAF Fuels Engineer. I can't say enough good things about my boss, Ms. Kay. She has honestly been like a mama bear this past year plus as much has happened in 2020. She's an amazing lady and I am so very appreciative of her. If she had a flaw, the one flaw, would be that she is an Ohio State fan! I guess I'm grateful that she still hired me knowing that I was originally from Michigan!!!

I've had some great memories of my first year in this new career, in this new position. I have even had the chance at a unique commute to and from work - in a kayak across the Pearl Harbor Channel!

While in the military, I was on the logistics side of fuels; issuing, storing, transferring, accounting, laboratory sampling, and overall management of the fuel that went from our storage on base to the aircraft. In my new career, I am on the engineering side of the house. I work with all the Air Force bases in the Pacific region (Japan, Korea, Alaska, Guam, Wake Island) to develop projects to keep their fuels infrastructure healthy. That brings us to where we are now; living in Ewa Beach and working on Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam just outside of Honolulu, Hawaii. I’m pleased at how awesome 2019 was; it was great for my family and for me personally. 2020 brought on new challenges and a bit of heart ache to our lives as I'll detail in a future post.

While still on active duty, I always stated I didn’t know what I wanted to be when I grew up.  Towards the end of my career, I was looking at a multitude of career choices, from going into Human Resources as that’s what I majored in college, to finding work in logistics and operations positions in large warehouse companies like Amazon and Fanatics.  I truly feel those would have been just jobs; I feel I found my calling in the field I grew up in, just didn’t realize that’s what I wanted to continue doing!  But I am grateful for the opportunities that have come my way; I truly love what I am doing and can honestly see myself doing this until I retire for good!  

  

When we first moved to Hawaii, we lived in a place called Kapilina Bach Homes; it was OLD Navy housing, but it was a great place to figure out where we wanted to live here on Oahu.  We bought a house in June of 2020 in Eva Beach (Ocean Point) not too far from where we lived.  We certainly have enjoyed our time here with all the different beaches and food opportunities (it’s no Vegas when it comes to food, but its good none the less!), hiking trails, availability to get back to the mainland, or potentially a closer trip over to Asia or Australia for a vacation at some point. The journey is different now, but continues just the same!   

Kapilina Beach Homes 

Nellis Air Force Base, Las Vegas, Nevada - Part 2

I will never forget my time at Nellis. I found out in March of 2017 that I would soon be promoted to the rank of Senior Master Sergeant (SMSgt/E-8) with an effective date of rank of 1 June 2017. A huge life adjustment happened at this base as well as we brought into the world a beautiful baby girl on December 18, 2017. To this day, I get her birthday backwards; I was asked at a recent appointment to give her birthday to which I said 12/17/18 – the receptionist smiled and shook her head. I corrected myself with 12/18/17! Our lil Norah Leona Kahealani Watros is our little angel yet has the biggest mischievous spirit! I deployed for a 7th and final time, spending 188 days in Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar from October of 2018 till April of 2019. 

Al Udeid Air Base is a military base southwest of Doha, Qatar. It houses Qatar Air Force, United States Air Force, Royal Air Force, and other Gulf War Coalition personnel and assets. It is host to a forward headquarters of United States Central Command, headquarters of United States Air Forces Central Command, No. 83 Expeditionary Air Group RAF, and the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing of the USAF. In 1999, the then Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Hamad told U.S. officials that he would like to see as many as 10,000 U.S. servicemen permanently stationed at Al Udeid. According to media reports in June 2017, the base hosted over 11,000 U.S. and U.S.-led anti-ISIL coalition forces and over 100 operational aircraft. Al Udeid Air Base now serves as a logistics, command, and basing hub for U.S. operations in Afghanistan and Iraq. Nearby Camp As Sayliyah houses significant U.S. military equipment pre-positioning and command and control facilities for the CENTCOM's area of operations. Both Qatar and the United States have invested in the construction and expansion of these facilities since the mid-1990s, and they form the main hub of the CENTCOM air and ground logistical network in the area of responsibility. As a result of ongoing operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, U.S. and partner nation facilities in Qatar and elsewhere have received higher use in recent years and may require further investment to meet current and potential future needs. We accomplished so many things as a team - I was grateful for this 7th and final deployment and after so many trips to the middle east, I had never been up close and personal with a camel. I FINALLY got to ride a camel!! WIN!

After arriving home in April of 2019, with an approved retirement date already set, I was in out-processing mode once again – this time there would be no assignment coming; reality was setting in that this was the end of my military career – one that would officially end on October 31st, 2019 and span 23 years, 3 months, and 1 day. I am extremely thankful and proud that my mom was able to attend my military retirement. She was the one who set me off on this journey in the United States Air Force when I was a 19 year old kid back in 1996. Here I stood before my flight, my squadron, my children, my parents, my friends, my colleagues, saying my military goodbyes. What an extremely hard day! One of my best friends, Dom Brock, a class mate of mine back to our Ellsworth Elementary days all the way through graduation in our little Michigan town presided over my retirement as he was an Army Warrant Officer. The point where I nearly lost my military bearing was a portion of the ceremony where I was to present a folded flag to a person of my choosing – my mom of course. Her face said it all; as she started crying (she didn’t know that this was part of the ceremony) I knew she was proud of a son who had served for many years. I had taken her along and she had seen nearly every base I had ever been to in person. And at that point, I couldn’t keep it together ether. I was supposed to hand her the flag, salute it and do an about face and walk away. I was able to salute, then gave her a big hug before walking back to my chair. All bearing lost….after what happened just a few months later, it was apparent that that was the best loss of bearing and so very worth it!

So many more memories were made at Nellis – from the birth of a child, our flight being honored as one of the top 3 POL flights in 2017 in ALL of the Air Force, to a new stripe, trips to Disney Land in California and The Grand Canyon in Arizona; learning how to play craps and roulette and enjoying the many hours sitting on a poker table in Las Vegas. Many NASCAR races with my racing buddy, Avery, at Las Vegas Motor Speedway (we lived less than 5 miles away), trips to Hollywood, San Diego, the mountains around Las Vegas, Hoover Dam, Valley of Fire State Park, to buying a new (50 year old) 1970 Chevrolet C-10 I called “The Ghost” (my dad has her in Michigan!), and of course a once in a lifetime military retirement. What an amazing assignment. What a way to end my military career! 

My advice is to never give up on your dreams and don’t ever forget where you came from. I don’t have any secrets as to how I came from a small town in Northern Michigan as a 19 year old kid to that of the crusty old Senior Master Sergeant at 42 in the United States Air Force. I will say this, I’ve never been afraid of hard work. I feel I’ve proved my worth within every organization I’ve been in; I’ve led teams as large as 110 people, but I can still get back and do the basic tasks that we expect of our new Airmen. To me, that’s what this is all about.  

My main goal in sharing this is to leave some sort of legacy for my children at some point. I have a friend who’s now in his 80s; an Army vet who served his country for 30 years. I’d love to hear his story; some day in my life, I’d hope someone would love to hear my story – even if it’s after I’m gone. Through all my time in the military, it’s always been about the people and the relationship and bond between those people. Through my 7 assignments and 7 deployments and 32 TDYs, I must have come across thousands of people, both within in the military and those I knew from elsewhere. I have so many fond memories with so many people. I’m sure I’ve forgotten far more stories than I’ve written, but that’s how it goes sometimes. I truly hope you’ve had a chance to read through all the posts thus far and smiled, laughed, felt my pain at times through my adventures within the Air Force and life that surrounded those. I have been blessed beyond measure. Thank you for all who’ve been in my life thus far. But you know what? The journey didn’t end with me retiring from this great United States Air Force. 

We made it across the finish line - However, the journey continues to this day!! I dedicate this to my beautiful mom who we sadly lost this year. She was there from the beginning until the end of my time in the military. She put me on a bus in 1996 and watched me retire in 2019. She visited me in nearly every place I lived; she worried about me on every deployment I went on. Mom was there for my successes and around when I stumbled as well. She truly was always my rock and my biggest fan throughout this journey. Thank you to an amazing woman. Rest easy Sherry Lynn Watros-Fisher (11 August 1953 - 20 February 2020). Love you always mom! 

A quick recap to my 23 years, 3 months, and 1 day in the Greatest Air Force on Earth!

Boarded a bus in Traverse City, Michigan – 30 July 1996

Boarded a plane in Detroit, Michigan; landed in San Antonio, Texas – 31 July 1996

The Journey Starts – Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas – 31 July – 16 Sept 1996

Tech School – Sheppard Air Force Base, Wichita Falls, Texas – 17 Sept – 4 Nov 1996

Recruiters Assistance Program/Leave – Traverse City, Michigan - 5 Nov – 26 Nov 1996

1^st Assignment – Seymour Johnson AFB, Goldsboro, North Carolina – 27 Nov 1996 to 21 May 2000

2^nd Assignment – Aviano Air Base, Aviano, Italy – 22 May 2000 to 7 May 2004

3^rd Assignment – Grand Forks AFB, Grand Forks, North Dakota – 8 May 2004 to 23 May 2009

4^th Assignment – Eielson AFB, Fairbanks, Alaska – 24 May 2009 to 4 June 2013

5^th Assignment – Seymour Johnson AFB, Goldsboro, North Carolina – 5 June 2013 to 5 Oct 2015

6^th Assignment – Daegu AB, Daegu, South Korea – 6 Oct 2015 to 22 Nov 2016

7^th Assignment – Nellis AFB, Las Vegas, Nevada – 23 Nov 2016 to 31 Oct 2019 (RETIRED)

Major Deployments

1- Prince Sultan AB, Al Kharj, Saudi Arabia – 1998 for 129 days supporting Operation Southern Watch

2 - Prince Sultan AB, Al Kharj, Saudi Arabia – 2002/2003 for 147 days supporting Operation Southern Watch

3 - Diego Garcia AB, British Indian Ocean Territory – 2005 for 138 days supporting Operation Enduring Freedom

4 - Manas AB, Kyrgyzstan – 2008 for 124 days supporting Operation Enduring Freedom

5 - Ali AB (Talil), Nasiriyah, Iraq – 2010 for 198 days supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom

6 - Isa AB, Manama, Bahrain – 2012 for 180 days supporting Operation Enduring Freedom

7 - Al Udeid AB, Qatar - 2018/2019 for 192 days supporting Operation Operations Inherent Resolve and Freedom's Sentinel