Wing Reservists deploy overseas this weekend Published Aug. 18, 2011 507th Air Refueling Wing TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Oklahoma -- Dozens of Air Force reservists from the 507th Air Refueling Wing will depart this weekend for three-month deployments to the Southwest Asia area of operations. The reservists, consisting of operations, maintenance and several support personnel will deploy out on several of the wing's KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft to two separate locations. The 507th flies and maintains the KC-135R Stratotanker and performs daily air refueling missions in support of national defense. The wing operates and maintains 12 KC-135R "Stratotanker" aircraft. This latest deployment is one on an ongoing series of deployments for the wing which date back to 2003 and the start of OPERATION Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom. "Our wing averages one major operational deployment every 15 months or less," said Col. Jeffrey R. Glass, 507th ARW commander. "It's amazing that our wing has been able to continue to support these requests without a mandatory activating olf our reservists." The colonel stated, "This year there are about 290 wing members who have either already been or will be on orders, as volunteers, directly supporting these ongoing operations. This equates to 24 percent of our 1200 wing members to date." The colonel went on to say that in previous years, that figure has approached 50 percent. "Our wing's deployment tempo rivals and exceeds many active duty units," Colonel Glass said, adding, "The fact that our reservists are able to deploy like they do would not be possible without the fantastic support of their employers. I never cease to be amazed how these employers continue to step up in support of national defense." The deploying reservists are expected to return sometime by mid-November.