LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. –
More than 1,800 days have passed since the beginning of the war in Iraq.
Throughout the past five years, our Airmen, soldiers, Marines and seamen have supported and defended the Constitution in a foreign country. Although there's no doubt the Air Force has an important role in the Global War on Terror, some Americans may not realize the broad spectrum of how our Airmen support the mission.
Here, hundreds of Airmen deploy around the clock. From medics to a crew chiefs; supply techs to ammunitions techs - Langley Airmen continually step up to the challenge of defending America's freedom.
Tech. Sgt. Stephen Springer, 1st Security Forces Squadron, remembers a riot during his deployment to Camp Bucca, Iraq.
"You can get all the training in the world back home, but when it comes down to the real deal, no training can prepare you for that feeling," he said."There's just a certain camaraderie you build in Iraq that you just can't explain, it's real and it's priceless."
Sergeant Springer had plenty of opportunities to build trust with his fellow Airmen and soldiers. He was one of the first security forces teams on the ground in Iraq, establishing security for the Air Force in one of Iraq's most hostile areas.
The 10-year Langley native added, "I would go back; not a problem. It doesn't faze me."
Staff Sgt. Nate Harper, 1st Services Squadron lodging clerk, recalls a day during her latest deployment to Iraq when she had the opportunity to care for a young girl who was injured outside of the base.
"We spent about seven hours together; she was such a cute little girl ... we bonded in that short time," Sergeant Harper said.
Despite the 12-hour workdays six days a week at the Balad Air Base Library, the Philadelphia native used her spare time to volunteer at the hospital.
"The experiences I got from there were unforgettable, but the Baskin Robbins there, also made me pretty happy," she added.
Sergeant Harper also noticed changes across the base during her deployment from September 2007 to January 2008.
"When I first got there, we had about seven to eight attacks to the base a day, when I left we were only getting one or two," she said. "We kept our heads up and the moral was high."
Staff Sgt. Stephen Roby, 1st Maintenance Operations Squadron maintenance training flight instructor, was deployed to Saudi Arabia prior the announcement of the United States' involvement in Iraq.
"I was nervous, but who wouldn't be?" said Sergeant Roby. "We were ready to go and do our job and that's what matters."
The Des Moines, Iowa, native joined the Air Force because he wanted to serve the country. He provided air support for the F-15s in Saudi Arabia while assigned to the 71st Aircraft Maintenance Unit.
"It was a great experience; I would go back if I could," he said. "I want to be part of the action."
Maj. Oluwanishola Asenuga, 1st Medical Support Group Squadron flight commander of physical medicine was responsible for more than 13,000 soldiers while deployed to Iraq.
"I was the only physical therapist on Bagram Air Base while I was deployed," Major Asenuga said. "But the 14-hour days were well worth it."
While away from home, the major took care of mostly Army patients who needed to be "fixed fast" to return to the fight.
"The soldiers would tell me they needed to be fixed fast because their buddies were still out there," she said. "It was an honor to be there; it was an honor to make a difference."
Staff Sgt. Christopher Caughill, 1st Operations Support Squadron weather forecaster, was given a ride in an UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter around the local area to help orientate him with Iraq.
"I was forward deployed with three days notice to go to Iraq from Kuwait," said Sergeant Caughill. "I got there in March, right as everything was starting."
The weather forecaster set up support for Balad Air Base, Iraq, helping the Army's 82nd Airborne Division and 1st Air Cavalry Division complete their missions.
"It was such a great experience; I would do it again," said the sergeant. "You get to see the impact daily, and it's very gratifying."