Airmen share deployed experiences

  • Published
  • By Airman Nathan Riley
  • 28th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
ELLSWORTH AIR FORCE BASE, S.D. --  The first deployment sharing session, presented by the Ellsworth's Chiefs Group, was held March 22 at Dakota's during a lunch-time gathering. 

The session was an opportunity for Airmen to share deployment stories and experiences with anyone curious to hear their stories. 

"This program is extremely important for all Airmen, but especially our young enlisted tier," said Chief Master Sgt. John Gillette, 28th Bomb Wing command chief. "What we have is an opportunity for people that have no-kidding been downrange and seen what's going on to bring that data here to home station and directly feed it to other troops." 

The command chief emphasized there's simply no substitute for hard gained experience when it comes to deployments. 

"Home station and pre-deployment training are vital to success in the combat theater," Chief Gillette said. "But, you can't replace the knowledge gleaned by someone who actually made the trip and gained that combat edge by living and breathing the combatant commander's vision. I encourage everyone to take advantage of this program." 

Attendees ate lunch and listened to Tech. Sgt. Michael Hall, 28th Civil Engineer Squadron structural craftsman, the guest speaker for the deployment sharing session.
"I might have opened some eyes to what we need to take into the combat areas," he said about presenting. 

He said he hopes young Airmen take away from his stories that they need to take their training seriously. 

After Sergeant Hall shared his stories, Chief Master Sgt. Bionca Lindsey, 28th Medical Group superintendent, presented him with a chief's coin and thanked him for being the first volunteer. 

Chief Lindsey hopes to get enough volunteers to have a deployment sharing session once a month. 

"We want to hear the stories," said Chief Lindsey. "Go ahead and volunteer." 

To volunteer to share deployment experiences in the next deployment sharing session, contact Chief Lindsey at 385-3568.