Megan McAlister and son Colin await husband and father, Tech. Sgt. Chris McAlister, 756th Air Refueling Squadron KC-135 Stratotanker boom operator, on the flightline at Joint Base Andrews, Md., Feb. 9, 2015. McAlister was deployed to the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing at an undisclosed location in southwest Asia. He was separated from his wife and eight-month-old son for two months. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Philip Bryant)

Maj. Stephen Akins, 756th Air Refueling Squadron KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft commander and pilot, holds his daughter on the flightine at Joint Base Andrews, Md., Feb. 9, 2015. The Akins family reunited after a two month deployment to the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Philip Bryant)

Family of a 459th Air Refueling Wing member holds welcome balloons as they wait to be reunited on the flightline at Joint Base Andrews, Md., Feb. 9, 2014. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Philip Bryant)

Col. Thomas K. Smith, 459th Air Refueling Wing commander, passes bags from the KC-135 Stratotanker to other unit members on the flightline at Joint Base Andrews, Md., Feb. 9, 2015. It is common for unit members to unload bags while returnees embrace family. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Philip Bryant)