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Airmen from the 76th Airlift Squadron, 86th Operational Support Squadron and civilian contractors returned from a 75-day deployment to Afghanistan June 1.
Family members, loved ones and co-workers welcomed the redeployers as they disembarked from their C-20H Gulfstream IV aircraft.
“It feels great to be back here after completing such an important mission,” said Lt. Col. Grant Fish, 76th AS pilot and commander of the C-20H detachment in Afghanistan. “We’re happy to be back with our families. It’s a fantastic feeling getting all these Airmen home after performing an exceptional job.”
Fish and his crew provided distinguished-visitor airlift in the Afghan theater, Europe and in the U.S.
“It was a resounding success,” Fish said. “We got the (distinguished visitors) to every event safely, reliably and comfortably.”
Fish took pride in his crew’s performance during the mission and expressed how their work contributed to the mission of the Air Force to provide global reach and air mobility.
“Above all, the attitude and effort of our people, both military and civilian, to come together and provide dedicated airlift accentuates the ability of the United States Air Force’s use of executive airlift to take care of our user and distinguished visitors as we transport them throughout the battlespace and around the globe,” Fish said.
Maj. John T. Field, 76th AS assistant director of operations, expressed how the professionalism and technical skill of the crew contributed to the accomplishment of the mission.
“Words cannot describe how proud the squadron is of this team because they were extremely successful in supporting the (mission),” Field said. “This is one of the many reasons why the 76th Airlift Squadron is known throughout the Air Force as one of the best.”
Field, who served as the director of operations for the deployment, said the mission has not only benefited operations in Afghanistan but also the mission of the 76th AS.
“Having them back is a huge gain for the squadron,” Field said. “The aircrew members bring back a plethora of tactical and deployment airspace knowledge that will be useful to the entire 76th Airlift Squadron.
“Although these members have returned from their deployment, the taskings to fly in the area of responsibility will not stop, and the members who have returned will be an integral part of training the squadron as it prepares for the next deployment,” Field continued.
With the experience and knowledge gained during the deployment, the Airmen will be able to contribute to the planning of safer and more effective missions in the future.
