Ellsworth deploys Airmen to Southwest Asia

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Anania Tekurio
  • 28th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
ELLSWORTH AIR FORCE BASE, S.D. --  Approximately 350 Airmen bid farewell to their families, friends and co-workers July 24 as they prepared to deploy to Southwest Asia in support of missions in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility.

Aircrews, maintenance and support personnel deploying from Ellsworth will join the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing in helping U.S. and coalition forces execute B-1 bomber missions, thereby providing lethal, multi-role airpower to Operations Inherent Resolve and Freedom's Sentinel

"We have thoroughly prepared and aggressively trained for this deployment," said Lt. Col. Joseph, 37th Bomb Squadron commander. "The mission sets we will be tasked to execute are similar to what we've been doing for several years in the CENTCOM [area]."

This deployment marks a career mile-stone for Airman Mercedes, 28th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron weapons crew member, who heads downrange for the first time.

"My leadership really helped prepare me for this deployment," said Mercedes. "I'm confident that the training and preparation will help us succeed in accomplishing the mission."

Joseph said the situation and environment are increasingly dynamic as the enemy continues to evolve and because of this, no matter how many times we ask our Airmen to deploy, they take care of the mission and avoid complacency.

"When they arrive in theater they realize the importance of their mission and the reality that lives are at stake," Joseph explained. "I don't foresee our Airman having any difficulty staying focused on the mission and executing at the very highest level."