A C-17 transport plane operated by the 780th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron takes off from MK Air Base en route to Afghanistan Feb. 3. The massive cargo plane carried soldiers from the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) on the inaugural mission from MK to an operating area in Southwest Asia. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Warren W. Wright Jr., 21st TSC Public Affairs)