ron ▁deployed ▁to ▁D h ah ran ▁for ▁Operation ▁Southern ▁Watch . ▁In ▁ 1 9 9 5 , ▁the ▁ 1 7 th ▁sent ▁an ▁aircraft ▁to ▁particip ate ▁in ▁Ex erc ise ▁Te ak ▁I ro qu ois ▁ 9 5 - 4 , ▁the ▁first ▁military - to - mil it ary ▁exer cis es ▁with ▁the ▁Indian ▁Air ▁Force . ▁In ▁December ▁ 1 9 9 6 , ▁the ▁ 1 7 th ▁deployed ▁a ▁Com bat ▁Sh adow ▁crew ▁to ▁San ▁V ito ▁Air ▁Station ▁in ▁support ▁of ▁Operation ▁J oint ▁Guard ▁in ▁the ▁Kos ovo ▁War . ▁This ▁was ▁the ▁first ▁time ▁that ▁a ▁crew ▁from ▁the ▁squad ron ▁fle w ▁combat ▁hours ▁since ▁Vietnam . ▁ ▁On ▁ 2 6 ▁December ▁ 2 0 0 4 , ▁the ▁ 2 0 0 4 ▁Indian ▁Ocean ▁earth qu ake ▁and ▁t sun ami ▁caused ▁w ides p read ▁destruction ▁in ▁the ▁region . ▁The ▁squad ron ▁deployed ▁aircraft ▁and ▁personnel ▁to ▁Bang k ok ▁in ▁order ▁to ▁aid ▁relief ▁efforts ▁in ▁Operation ▁Un ified ▁Ass istance . ▁After ▁the ▁ 2 0 1 1 ▁T ō h oku ▁earth qu ake ▁and ▁t sun ami ▁on ▁ 1 1 ▁March ▁of ▁that ▁year , ▁the ▁squad ron ▁deployed ▁to ▁Y ok ota ▁Air ▁Base ▁to ▁support ▁the ▁relief ▁effort ▁in ▁Operation ▁Tom od achi , ▁returning ▁to ▁K ad ena ▁in ▁early ▁April . ▁The ▁squad ron ▁supported ▁Operation ▁Dam ay an , ▁the ▁relief ▁effort ▁in