 It began as a small 4 aircraft squadron until 1995 when it was authorized to grow to 8 aircraft and increased personnel.From late February to April 1998, four KC-135R aircraft from the 203d, and over 200 154th Wing maintenance and support guard members deployed to Istres Air Base, France, to participate in Operation Deliberate Forge.As real world hostilities began, the focus turned to Operation Allied Force.