LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Virginia –
The final group of 1st Fighter Wing Airmen deploying for Air and Space Expeditionary Force rotations 9 and 10 finished their deployment briefings and received their mobility bags Jan. 13.
Although they were going to different locations and leaving on different days, many people shared some common feelings while waiting in the 1st Logistics Readiness Squadron mobility hangar -- nervousness and anxiety.
The feelings came from nearly everyone in the hangar, from Capt. Jonathan Theard, 1st Comptroller Squadron, and Senior Airman Robert Cintron, 1st Civil Engineer Squadron, who are leaving on their fi rst deployments to Chief Master Sgt. Richard Womer, 1st Mission Support Group superintendent, who has been on three deployments in his 27 years in the Air Force.
Each of their feelings differed in intensity and each had a different method for easing those feelings. Chief Womer prepared himself by setting up bills to pay online and saving money in case of an emergency while he is gone. He also explained to his family why he was leaving and the importance of his role in the Air Force so they would understand and, hopefully, relax.
“I am leaving behind a wife and daughter,” he said. “It’s hard for everyone during deployment, but it is also important to communicate with family so they understand why we are leaving.”
The chief also knows from previous experience that once deployed he can rely on his training and the Airmen around him.
Captain Theard burns off the anxiety by knowing that he is about to do what he has already sent many young Airmen off to accomplish.
“I’m excited about going,” he said. “I’m finally putting in mine.”
Like Chief Womer, Captain Theard also prepared his wife so the deployment would be as easy on her as possible. He shared what others passed on about their experiences and made sure she had a good network of friends and other military spouses that she could ask for help while he was gone.
For Airman Cintron, the anxiety of the deployment was multiplied by the short notice he received before getting his orders. He received his orders just after Christmas. He said he tried to prepare his wife as best he could before leaving, but with limited time to out process and let everything set in she was still asking why he was getting deployed.
“The reality of this deployment set in when I was fi lling out my will,” he said. “I wish I were deploying with friends. You feel safer when you know you have a friend to watch your back.”
The friends, Airman Cintron refers to are guys from his squadron like Senior Airman Chris Weekly and Airman 1st Class Chong Na who are deploying to Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar. During briefi ngs the three sat together and during breaks they were joking and jovial with one another. That kind of camaraderie will help once Airmen Weekly and Na are deployed.
Staff Sgts. Shawanda Skinner and Vanessa Maxfield, both from the 1st Mission Support Squadron, are deploying to MacDill Air Force Base, Fla.
“It’s easier when you deploy with someone you know,” said Sergeant Maxfield who deployed to Kuwait last year. “Then you have someone to talk to.”
“Or someone to fight with,” said Sergeant Skinner with a lighthearted jab to her friend’s ribs.
The two friends shared a laugh in the mobility hangar and hope comfort each other while they are away. No matter where they are deploying to, and no matter how long they are gone, 1st Fighter Wing Airmen will always have their training to rely on while they are deployed and they can always know there is world class support still here to support their families and them once they return.