From February 2003 until 13 February 2005, 728th aircrews flew combat airlift missions into Iraq and Afghanistan, performing engine running onloads/offloads of troops and equipment and flying aeromedical evacuation missions of wounded personnel. Members of the 728th also participated in the combat airdrop of the 173d Airborne Brigade over northern Iraq on 26 March 2003. The 728th received the Air Force Meritorious Unit Award for its support of OEF and OIF from February 2003 to February 2005.