THE TENSION: 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing Commanders Mark 3,000th F-16 Flying Hour

Col. John Dolan, vice commander of the 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing, prepares to egress his aircraft at Joint Base Balad, Iraq, after he completed his 3,000th flying hour in an F-16 Fighting Falcon, Dec. 2. Cols. Michael Fantini and David Romuald also completed their 3,000th F-16 flying hour that evening. Approximately 150 F-16 pilots have surpassed this milestone. Fantini is the commander of the 332nd Expeditionary Operations Group and Romauld is the 332nd Expeditionary Operations Group deputy commander. (Photographer: Airman 1st Class Jason Epley, 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing.)

Col. John Dolan, vice commander of the 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing, taxis under the spray of two fire department crash trucks at Joint Base Balad, Iraq, after he completed his 3,000th flying hour in an F-16 Fighting Falcon, Dec. 2. Cols. Michael Fantini and David Romuald also completed their 3,000th F-16 flying hour that evening. Approximately 150 F-16 pilots have surpassed this milestone. Fantini is the commander of the 332nd Expeditionary Operations Group and Romauld is the 332nd Expeditionary Operations Group deputy commander. (Photographer: Airman 1st Class Jason Epley, 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing.)

Cols. David Romuald, Michael Fantini and John Dolan pose in front of an F-16 Fighting Falcon at Joint Base Balad, Iraq, after they each completed their 3,000th flying hour in an F-16, Dec. 2. As tradition would dictate, they were hosed down with water from fire department crash trucks after leaving their cockpits. Approximately 150 F-16 F-16 pilots have surpassed the 3,000 hour mark. Dolan is the vice commander of the 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing, Fantini is the commander of the 332nd Expeditionary Operations Group and Romauld is the 332nd Expeditionary Operations Group deputy commander. (Photographer: Airman 1st Class Jason Epley, 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing.)

Col. Michael Fantini, the 332nd Operations Group commander, gives a thumbs up at Joint Base Balad, Iraq, after he completed his 3,000th flying hour in an F-16 Fighting Falcon, Dec. 2. Cols. John Dolan and David Romuald also completed their 3,000th F-16 flying hour that evening. Approximately 150 F-16 pilots have surpassed this milestone. Dolan is the vice commander of the 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing and Romauld is the 332nd Expeditionary Operations Group deputy commander. (Photographer: Airman 1st Class Jason Epley, 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing.)