Samurai Warriors deploy to support freedom

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Eric Summers
  • 374th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan --  Sixteen Airmen from Yokota's 36th Airlift Squadron deployed from here Feb. 11 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. 

The squadron will be supporting OIF by carrying cargo and personnel to other bases during the  four-month-long deployment. ," 

"This deployment is equally exciting as my first," said 1st Lt. Jenn Sherwood, 36th AS navigator. "This will be my second deployment, so I am less nervous since I have been there before."

Co-pilot 1st Lt. Adam Cole said he is also excited about deploying.  It is his first.

 "My family is anxious about me going,but I told them we train really hard for these types of deployments and that they shouldn't worry about anything." 

One reason for the excitement is that we will be focusing on primary duties, said Staff Sgt. Jon Lange, 36th AS load master. 

"Here [at Yokota] most of my time is spent instructing and carrying out additional duties," Sergeant Lange said. "The difference we experience in the desert is that most of our days are spent actually performing our primary duties and flying." 

The 36th's deployment represents a portion of the Airmen that deployed from Yokota last year.  In 2008, more than 2,200 Yokota Airmen deployed in support of various exercises and operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.