http://www.dyess.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123343074
~~~
Historic homecoming for Dyess Mobility Airmen by Airman 1st Class Charles V.
Rivezzo 7th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
4/4/2013 - DYESS AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- For the first time in nearly a
decade, the entire 317th Airlift Group fleet is back at their home station,
as the final Airmen and aircraft returned here recently.
The 317th AG is one of the most heavily-tasked units in the Air Force and
one of the several remaining active-duty C-130 units. The group's mission is
to train, mobilize, and employ its aircraft worldwide, providing all phases
of combat delivery, including air-land, airdrop and aeromedical evacuation.
Since Dec. 20, 2003, the 317th AG and its C-130 fleet continuously deployed
in support of overseas combat operations, living up to their motto of
providing "dominant air power and combat support to combatant and joint
force commanders ... anytime, anywhere!"
During the constant deployments, the group was able to accomplish a complete
fleet transition from the C-130 H to J-model while leading countless airdrop
innovations, all while maintaining proficiencies to ensure success
downrange.
"Answering the Nation's call comes with a lot of work and our Airmen have
put in blood, sweat and tears, not only during the constant state of
deployments, but here at home station as well," said Col. Walter H. Ward,
317th AG commander. "To be continuously deployed for nearly a decade is an
extraordinary feat on its own, but to be able to accomplish a complete fleet
transition, as well as our innovations in airdrop capabilities, truly
reflects just how dedicated and professional our Airmen are."
The 317th AG continues to transition to the C-130J Super Hercules - the most
technologically advanced version of the C-130. With only two more aircraft
set to be delivered later this year, Dyess will have the distinction of
being home to the largest C-130J fleet in the world.
The final tally for the group rests at 3,378 continuous days deployed, with
more than 57,000 sorties and 95,000 hours flown during the past decade.
"This is a great day for us," said Ward. "Seeing these American flags waving
and smiles on these families' faces is a sight that never gets old. It feels
great to have everybody home for the first time in a very long time."
The group's homecoming follows President Obama's State of Union address, in
which he announced that "over the next year, another 34,000 American troops
will come home from Afghanistan ... and by the end of next year, our war in
Afghanistan will be over."
To date, the number of U.S. troops has already declined from a high of about
100,000 in 2010 to 66,000 now.
"When people tell you they're a 317th Airlift Group Airman, you notice them
stand a little straighter, their chest bows out," Ward said. "When you look
back at the end of the day we can say we did something that really mattered,
whether it was inserting ground forces to secure territory or delivering
hope to places seemingly out of reach. We can look back and know we held the
pen in our hands that helped write the pages of history."
While this historic homecoming allows the 317th AG to recover from its
decade long ops-tempo, the downtime will only last until September, when the
39th Airlift Squadron again deploys in support of overseas operations.
"It takes great teams to do great deeds," the colonel said. "As proud as I
am of 317th Airlift Group Airmen, we wouldn't be celebrating 3,378
consecutive days of successful deployment without the steadfast support of
our families, a faithful mission partner in the 7th Bomb Wing, and a city
that embraces us as their own and proudly supports us like no other."
~~~
Pictures:
Sixteen 317th Airlift Group C-130J Super Hercules prepare to take off for a
training exercise July 2, 2012, at Dyess Air Force Base, Texas. The
simulated mission was an airdrop above two different drop zones. Once the
final aircraft was airborne, the 317th AG made history, flying the largest
C-130J formation ever. The first C-130J was delivered April 16, 2010, by Air
Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz. Dyess has since received 20 more
and is scheduled to get a total of 28 Js, making it the largest C-130J unit
in the world. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Peter Thompson/
Released)
Senior Airman Dan Simonsen, Senior Master Sgt. Steve Martin and Senior
Airman Marcus Wright, loadmasters with the 772nd Expeditionary Airlift
Squadron, perform a Low Cost, Low Altitude airdrop from the back of a C-130J
in southwest Afghanistan Nov. 15. They are deployed from Dyess Air Force
Base, Texas. (U.S. Air Force photo/Capt. Tristan Hinderliter)
Joint Precision Airdrop System (JPADS) bundles land close to the intended
target during a training exercise Tuesday, April 24, at the Antelope Drop
Zone at Fort Hood. JPADS is an airdrop system that uses Global Positioning
Satellite, steerable parachutes and an onboard computer to steer loads to a
designated point of impact on a drop zone. (Photo by Daniel Cernero, III
Corps and Fort Hood Public Affairs)
U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Korey King, 40th Airlift Squadron, prepares
to release a wind sonde from a C-130J Super Hercules assigned to the 317th
Airlift Group prior to an airdrop training mission Aug. 14, 2012, at Dyess
Air Force Base, Texas. This wind sonde device is part of Joint Precision
Airdrop System (JPADS), and is released at high altitudes over a drop zone
to measure the wind prior to an actual cargo drop. JPADS is a cargo
parachute system that incorporates an onboard global positioning system able
to guide the cargo with pinpoint accuracy to a designated drop zone. JPADS
also allows cargo to be dropped from higher attitudes, allowing aircraft to
safely avoid enemy ground fire. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Richard
P. Ebensberger/ Released)
No comments:
Post a Comment