Air National Guard Squadron Mobilized for Deployment

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  • 168th Air Refueling WIng
EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska --  Thirty-one Alaska Air National Guard members from the 168th Security Forces Squadron, stationed here, will begin a 10-month mobilization and deployment Saturday in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. This is the squadron's second mobilization since 2001 after previous deployments to Qatar and Saudi Arabia.

This will be the fifth combat deployment for the squadron since the start of the Global War on Terrorism and the second combat deployment in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Members of the squadron previously served in Afghanistan and two teams are currently deployed to northern and southern Iraq and are scheduled to return home within two months.

The upcoming deployment will also mark a milestone for the Air National Guard and the 168th Security Forces Squadron. This will be the first deployment in which responsibility for security of a major overseas installation will be turned over to the Air National Guard with the 168th designated as the command element.

Maj. Carl Alvarez will assume command in September of nearly 200 Air National Guard Security Forces personnel from seven different states responsible for the security of a major Operation Enduring Freedom forward operating base, Manas Air Base in Kyrgyzstan. Major Alvarez, preparing for his third six-month deployment since 2002 is ready for the challenge.

"Security Forces primary mission at Manas Air Base, Kyrgyzstan, is to provide air base ground defense to protect the installation and personnel, as well as protection from standoff weapons, which may pose a threat to the airfield and the aircraft during critical times of flight including takeoffs and landings," he said. "It's a privilege to lead and deploy with these dedicated Citizen-Airmen from such diverse backgrounds such as police officers, school teachers and a geologist."

This is Senior Airman Jay Adams' second deployment to Iraq, his first having been in Iraq in 2006 for six months. Airman Adams is an electrician apprentice from IBEW Local 1547. Born and raised in Fairbanks, he's looking forward to deploying with his unit again.

"Being a member of the Alaska Air National Guard gives me the opportunity to serve not only my family and friends in the local community and the state that we live in, but in the case of our upcoming deployment, serve as a member of the active duty Air Force and do my part in the Global War on Terrorism."

Tech. Sgt. Andrew Seward, who has lived in Anchorage and Fairbanks for nearly 25 years and is a seven-year veteran of the squadron, is also preparing for his second deployment overseas. When the squadron received the prepare-to-mobilize-and-deploy order in March, he worked with his employer at Trademark in Fairbanks to be released early to assist in preparations.

"The folks at Trademark were very supportive of our local Guard unit and allowed me to take a military leave of absence to help the full-time staff prepare for the mobilization and deployment," Sergeant Seward said. "The long road preparing the squadrons weapons and equipment for deployment is nearly complete."

The squadron was notified of the mobilization and deployment in mid-March and many of the Airmen have been anticipating their departure ever since.

"I'm kind of anxious to get over there," said Senior Airman Christopher Adams, who along with his brother, Senior Airman Jay Adams, will be deploying for a second time since 2005. "Getting to see a different part of the world and deploying with my entire squadron will be great"

When they got the word, the Eielson Air Force-based Airmen began taking care of family business in preparation for the impending training cycle and deployment.

"At first it was hard when I had to tell my family I wouldn't be home for the Christmas holiday because of our deployment," said Staff Sergeant Nathan Harbour, an M249 machine gunner preparing for his second deployment. "But they're proud of me, and I'm proud to be able to take part in the war on terror."

The squadron will depart for pre-deployment ground combat defense training next week at Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas, for three weeks before returning home to finish training prior to their departure in September for six months.