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466 AEG activated at TCM

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Matt Benedetti
  • 376th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
TRANSIT CENTER AT MANAS, Kyrgyzstan --  The 9th Air and Space Expeditionary Task Force -Afghanistan activated the 466th Air Expeditionary Group during a joint ceremony at the Transit Center at Manas, Kyrgyzstan, Nov. 26, 2012.

The ceremony combined five events, the activation and assumption of command of the 466 AEG, activation and assumption of command of the 466th Air Expeditionary Squadron and a change of command for the 966 AES.

Maj. General H.D. Polumbo, Jr, 9th Air and Space Expeditionary Task Force -Afghanistan commander, presided over the 466 AEG activation and assumption of command ceremony.
During the ceremony and as dictated by military tradition, the 466 guideon was unfurled to signify the group's activation. Col. John Cline assumed command of the 466 AEG and also served as the officiating officer for the 466 AES activation and assumption of command ceremony.

The [466 AEG] is the most unique of units that has the most unique of missions, he said.

"We are capable of versatile and flexible responses to asymmetric challenges that face our great nation. The existence of this unit and our presence embodies and reinforces our solemn commitment to support Joint Expeditionary Tasked Airmen serving in harm's way and we will not let them down."

Polumbo stressed the importance of the 466 AEG for Airmen serving in remote locations throughout Afghanistan.

"I regularly visit our [Joint Expeditionary Tasked] Airmen in Afghanistan and we could not accomplish the mission without their efforts," Polumbo said. "We work hard to take care of our Airmen who are serving in small pockets of excellence throughout the area of responsibility."

Lt. Col. Joshua Hetsko assumed command of the 466 AES and Lt. Col. William Rondeau assumed command of the 966 AES.

As Lt. Col. Thomas Single relinquished command of the 966 AES, he reflected on his yearlong deployment.

"Our job is to take care [Jet and IA Airmen] every single day. The [966 AES] staff past and present made it happen and I cannot thank them enough."

"This has truly been a humbling experience," he said.

The 466 AEG provides specified administrative and operational control of more than 2,300 JET Airmen and Individual Augmentees serving throughout Afghanistan. Comprised of Airmen from more than 115 Air Force Specialty Codes, the 466 AEG supports International Security Assistance Force operations in Afghanistan with essential resources.