SOUTHWEST ASIA –
Airmen of the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing have become true deployment veterans witnessing progress, change and discovering personal keys to success while in the combat theater.
The Air Force has been engaged in combat air operations for the past 16 years and three Airmen from the 379th AEW have contributed to that by deploying a combined total of 10 times throughout the past four years. That's about 1,000 days of their lives spent answering the nation's call in support of the Global War on Terrorism.
"The experience here or anywhere in the [area of responsibility] will change your life and make you a better person," said Staff Sgt. Nathaniel Nernberger, 379th Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron communication and navigation specialist and six-time deployer. "You'll be able to take what you've experienced and learned here to help other people prepare for deployments as well as change things at home station, making things run smoothly and more effectively."
The common thread among the deployed Airmen was the goal of self-improvement while always keeping the mission first.
"While I'm deployed, I focus on improving mentally, spiritually and physically," said Senior Master Sgt. Robert Forrest, Combined Air Operations Center superintendent of theater medical logistics. Sergeant Forrest, who is deployed from the 1st Medical Support Squadron at Langley Air Force Base, Va., has deployed here twice. "Being deployed has helped me professionally by enabling me to concentrate on promotion studies and personally by getting in better shape.
Another two-time, 379th AEW Airman echoes his sentiments of professional and personal growth.
"The first time I was here, I worked in the civil engineer escort flight, and that experience taught me how to appreciate different career backgrounds and points of view. Personally, I was able to take time away from my everyday life and grow spiritually," said Staff Sgt. Jamie Holt, 379th Expeditionary Communication Squadron assistant mail control activity chief from Dyess Air Force Base, Texas.
Each time they've deployed here, they've taken note of the quality-of-life enhancements.
"The first time I came to the 379th, I lived in Camp Andy. Since then, they've added coalition compound, the CAOC and a new parking ramp to hold more aircraft," said Sergeant Nernberger, who has also deployed to Kuwait twice and Uzbekistan. "Along with all that came better amenities like permanent showers and restrooms, better dining facilities and better work facilities."
Sergeant Forrest also remembers the days when this base functioned with the bare minimum and appreciates what is available here now.
"Ice -- there was none available in the [dining facility] the last time I was here. Sleeping tents -- nobody had individual sleeping quarters. We had 20 or more people in extendable, modular tents. The base pool -- last time we had an above ground pool that rivals your kid's in the backyard. The base theater -- most of the movies were watched outside," he said listing the base improvements he noticed.
"The way the base is now and seeing the pictures of the new Millennium Village are enough to let me know the quality-of-life initiatives here are important and will keep getting better," he said about the state-of-the-art living facility nearing completion.
It doesn't take much to keep these warriors happy and healthy while deployed. For Sergeant Forrest, it's vitamins, exercise and studying. For Sergeant Holt, it's two showers a day, SPF 30 sunscreen and phone calls to her son. For Sergeant Nernberger, it's by being a part of the combat mission on the flightline and building rewarding friendships.
"To have a good time while working here, you've got to be personable. You've got to have a good relationship and enjoy being around the people you work with," said Sergeant Nernberger, from Dyess AFB. "If you aren't, then you will more than likely have a lousy time."
The most important advice these Airman want to give is to take advantage of the opportunities, get out of your comfort zone, do your job the best you can while here, stay in touch with people back home and to return home safely to your family.
There is an abundance of expeditionary experience in the 379th -- each warrior focused on the mission, going home as better Airmen and leaving this base a better place.