Local team deploys providing global influence

by Senior Airman Jose L. Hernandez-Domitilo
35th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

4/16/2014 - MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan -- Family and friends of members assigned to the 13th Fighter Squadron, 35th Maintenance Group and other 35th Fighter Wing units recently said goodbye to their loved ones heading for deployment in support of a U.S. Central Command mission in Southwest Asia.

The expeditionary mission demonstrates U.S. Pacific Command's combat-ready capability to employ airpower worldwide in support of combatant commanders.

While the F-16 Fighting Falcons assigned to the 13 FS consistently train to maintain readiness at all times, it isn't possible without the assistance of maintenance and other supporting units.

Lt. Col. Kristopher Struve, 13 FS commander, explained the daily mission cannot happen without the help of the entire Misawa team.

"When you look at every little piece, it's not just the pilots getting prepared for combat or the maintainers getting everything prepped for loading," Struve said. "It's also the back shops that provide maintenance support, logistical needs, transportation...right down to the Airman and Family Readiness Center helping our spouses while we're gone."

Likewise, he said the role of the maintainers deploying to support the mission plays an integral part of the job and this deployment.

"They often don't get the limelight but these Airmen work 12 hours a day, six to seven days a week at times, out in the snow and in the rain to get a jet ready," Struve said.

Lt. Col. Rognald E. Christensen, 35th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron commander, said the Airmen who were sent downrange have worked incredibly hard over the last four months and sacrificed a lot of personal time from their families to get the 13th Aircraft Maintenance Unit's aircraft and people ready to forward deploy.

"They accomplished a great deal of maintenance, scheduled inspections and deployment preparations, all the while executing a large force Temporary Duty to Guam to spin up the 13 Fighter Squadron pilots, only four weeks prior to the their deployment date," Christensen said. "From blowing snow in the winter, to brutally hot and muggy summer days, they work outside in the elements to generate and sustain airpower here at Misawa. I've never seen a more devoted group of professionals anywhere in my 21 year career."

Struve agrees saying that lots of folks were instrumental in preparing the team for their deployment.

"Many of people throughout the base put in long hours," Struve said. "All I can say is 'thank you' because, at the end of the day, it's about getting all the maintainers, our pilots and aircraft downrange where they need to go."

Included in the picture are also families left behind by those deployed like Katie Steinback, who is also a 35th Maintenance Squadron key spouse. It is the second time her husband has been away on deployment.

As part of the Key Spouse program, Steinback provides support to other spouses within her unit.

"If spouses face any questions or concerns about anything, they know they can come to us and we will answer their concerns and questions or find someone who will," Steinback said. "It is easy to get detached from the squadron when your husband is away, so we try to organize events and make sure that they are aware of them."

She said she feels that during a deployment, the most important thing for spouses to note is they are not alone or forgotten. Earlier this month, the organization hosted a squadron Easter egg hunt and party, there is the deployed family dinner in May, and they are currently working on other events for the coming months.

The Airman and Family Readiness Center also offers different services to assist families while their loved ones are away. The AFRC offers deployment perk cards for use at 35th Force Support Squadron facilities. They also provide the Give Parents a Break program that offers child care on designated afternoons, as well as a quarterly deployed spouse dinner. Spouses may receive a car care card for use at the Pit Stop.

A healthy family plays an essential role in the effectiveness of maintaining resilient Airmen ready to accomplish any mission. Programs offered by the AFRC are all part of the Air Force's dedication to developing Airmen and taking care of their needs and the needs of their families.