The 517th Airlift Squadron is a component unit of the U.S. Air Force’s 62nd Airlift Wing, stationed at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington State. It operates C-17 Globemaster III aircraft to support global mobility missions, including troop and cargo transport, airdrop, and air refueling operations. The squadron’s primary role is to provide rapid global mobility for the U.S. military forces around the world. Its history dates back to World War II, where it was initially formed as the 517th Troop Carrier Squadron and has since seen active service in various conflicts such as Vietnam and Afghanistan. The 517th Airlift Squadron is part of the larger U.S. Air Mobility Command (AMC), which oversees all strategic airlift, air refueling, and mobility-related special operations within the United States Air Force.