Milwaukee-based security forces Airmen prepare to deploy

Date: July 12, 2010
By Senior Airman Ryan Kuntze
128th Air Refueling Wing

Seventeen Airmen assigned to the Wisconsin Air National Guard's 128th Air Refueling Wing Security Forces Squadron have completed combat skills training at Fort Dix, N.J. The training is part of a 180-day deployment to the Transit Center at Manas, where the members will provide air base security for the 376th Air Expeditionary Wing.

The Airmen received a send-off June 23 from their families, Wing senior leadership officials and other security forces team members at Sijan Hall. Four members have already left for the Transit Center at Manas, while the remaining members will deploy later this month.

"I'm proud of them for being willing to go again," said Maj. Glenn Evenson, the 128th Air Refueling Wing security forces' commander.

Evenson's comment underscores the volunteer status of the team members.

Security forces team members are able to sign up for deployments, rather being ordered to go overseas, according to Master Sgt. Mark Warner, the 128th Security Forces Squadron training manager.

"This is what we do," Warner said.

The 128th Air Refueling Wing family support office is prepared to help the family members who stay behind while their loved ones go overseas.

"It's a challenging time for families," said Elaine Schachelmayer, the Airman and Family Program manager. "I just want to remind [the families] that we're here. We'll walk the walk with them."

The security forces team members spent approximately one month at Fort Dix to complete their combat skills training prior to deploying overseas. Combat skills training is a mandatory program for all service members, designed to reinforce war fighting skills, teach battlefield first aid techniques and hone necessary attributes for enduring a lengthy stay in hostile environments.