Dyess Airmen return from historic deployment

by Airman 1st Class Kedesha Pennant
7th Bomb Wing Public Affairs

2/6/2015 - DYESS AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- More than 350 Dyess Airmen returned to Dyess Air Force Base from a six-month deployment to the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility Feb. 1, 2015.

While deployed to Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar, Dyess Airmen generated missions in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Freedom's Sentinel and Operation Inherent Resolve.

Since 2001, B-1s from Dyess and Ellsworth Air Force Base have flown more than 12,000 sorties in support of the OEF mission, providing airpower to U.S. and coalition partners. The operation came to a close Dec. 31, 2014, in Kabul, Afghanistan.

Meanwhile, Operation Freedom's Sentinel and Operation Inherent Resolve are ongoing. OFS is a follow-on mission to OEF that began Jan. 1, 2015. The U.S. objectives of OFS are to pursue two missions with the support of the Afghan government and the Afghan people: to work with allies and partners, as part of NATO's Resolute Support mission, to continue training, advising and assisting Afghan security forces, and to continue counterterrorism operations against the remnants of terrorists to ensure Afghanistan is never again used to stage attacks against the United States and allies again.

Under OIR, the objectives are to provide a wide range of operations and versatile support to include intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance operations, humanitarian assistance and airstrikes against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant targets. Airpower degrades ISIL combat capability, denies them sanctuary needed to take or hold territory with massed forces and provides hope to allies in need. Airpower denies them needed supplies and prevents them from massing their forces for large-scale coordinated attacks.

During their deployment, Dyess aircrews provided rapid, long-range precision strike capability and persistent air presence to support these military objectives. The 9th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron, with support from the 9th Aircraft Maintenance Unit, released a record-breaking number of ordnance, dropping more than 2,000 bombs in the performance of close air support activities.

"There was a significant increase in our numbers compared to our last deployment in 2013," said Lt. Col. Ed Sumangil, 9th BS commander. "Just in Operation Inherent Resolve alone, the B-1 accounted for 23% of sorties involving the release of ordnance while performing close air support activities in a two-month period."

"We were the lead during the first night of airstrikes in Syria," said Sumangil. "This mission was a part of our overall goal to ensure we did everything we could to save American and coalition lives."

With the six-month deployment complete, Dyess Airmen made their way back to their loved ones. On the day of their homecoming, families and friends gathered at the two-bay hanger here, congregating on the flight line and cheering as Airmen descended from the aircraft that brought them home.

"This has been such a long time coming," said Bridget, who is pregnant with her and her husband's first child. "It's been a very long, challenging six months, especially with us getting ready to have a baby. However, I am so proud of my husband and everything he has done for this country that I would be more than willing to send him off again."

Some families have been through multiple deployments and have become accustomed to them; however, some family members felt like their Airman was coming back for the first time.

"I'm very happy to get my other half back," said Demetria Johnson, wife of Tech. Sgt. Gregory Johnson. "I feel like it's my tenth birthday again, and I'm ready to open my big present. We've been through many deployments, and while they may be stressful, we get through it."

And while Airmen returning home were thrilled to be reunited with their families, a feeling of pride was one of the other predominant feelings amongst redeployers.

"It means so much to be a part of history for my first deployment," said Airman 1st Class Michael Cameron, 7th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron. "To complete the mission and succeed with the men and women I served with was a thrill, and it would be hard to beat. I really didn't know what to expect, but I knew I'd been trained well and my goal is to see aircraft fly."

The 9th BS commander also observed growth amongst the Airmen during the six months.

"Just to see young Airmen grow from timid individuals into confident, professional officers, Airmen and aviators in a six-month deployment has given me a sense of pride," Sumangil said.