LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. –
Thirteen Airmen from the 1st Security Forces Squadron deployed from here Aug. 28 to Joint Base Balad, Iraq to help strengthen the 332nd Expeditionary Security Forces Group.
During the six-month tour they will be responsible for base defense, force protection, tower patrol and entry control points at Joint Base Balad, which is currently controlled by the Army.
The 332nd ESFG, which activated July 24, is part of an agreement between the Army and Air Force which states that Airmen will be taking over the majority of control for security, said Chief Master Sgt. James Johnston, 1st SFS.
"This is a pretty important step," he said. "The Army outnumbers the Air Force there, so this is very significant for our career field."
In preparation for their deployments, all security forces troops are required to attend a Regional Training Center 90 days prior to going in theater. Langley's 13-man team attended training in Fort Bliss, Texas.
"We send the team to training all at once, because you don't build team spirit by training separately," said Chief Johnston.
Senior Airman Bryan Obitts, 1st SFS, is among those deploying today. This will be his second deployment in support of the Global War on Terrorism, and his family came out to show their support.
"I'm anxious to go," said Airman Obitts. "My girlfriend hates that I will be gone, but my family understands."
His father, now retired, was also a security forces troop, but the career field has seen an increase in deployments in recent years. Due to operational demands in theater, security forces now deploys in bundles instead of the regular Air Expeditionary Force cycle.
At any given time, the 1st SFS has approximately 88 Airmen deployed around the world, said Chief Johnston. The squadron is compromised of 318 personnel, including deployed members and civilians.
"During the two or three months when the bundles overlap we could have up to 172 Airmen deployed," he said.
This week alone the squadron deployed 28 Airmen, including those who left today. With so many deployments and redeployments happening, the squadron makes a special effort to recognize each individual or group.
"We're very proud of these Airmen," said Chief Johnston. "We made it custom for our leadership to see each person off and also see that they come home safely."