LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. –
The 1st Force Support Squadron and 1st Fighter Wing Staff Agencies are set to deploy more than 170 Airmen in the coming weeks as part of the Air and Space Expeditionary Force, number 10 rotation.
Staff Sgt. Amber Sams, 1st FSS unit deployment manager, said services personnel here typically deploy in large numbers because the 1st FW is a lead wing in the AEF 10 rotation.
Sergeant Sams also notes that this rotation is different from previous deployments because of the increased number of Airmen deploying to support operations in Afghanistan.
Although the majority of deployers are heading to Afghanistan, the 1st FSS is also sending Airmen to Iraq and Japan, in addition to several state-side locations. Airmen heading to Japan will be joined by the 94th Fighter Squadron later this month.
Most of the Airmen deploying in this rotation will support operations in ways not directly related to their primary duty. Many will take on embedded training roles with the Army, while others will support third country national escort duties.
Airman 1st Class Jordan Long, 1st FSS food service apprentice, is one of the deployers heading to Afghanistan for TCN escort duty. Airman Long is excited for the 123-day deployment.
"I'm probably as gung-ho as they come," he said. "I've been knocking on my UDM's door since last October."
Airman Long is one of more than 20 Airmen working in the Eagle Room Dining Facility that will be deploying. With more than 50 percent of the 1st FW services personnel supporting operations abroad, the wing will bring in additional individual mobilization augmentees and contractors to sustain the mission at home.