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Year of the Air Force Family has new meaning for South Dakota unit

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Denice Rankin
  • 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
JOINT BASE BALAD, Iraq --  For the third time in as many years, the 114th Fighter Wing, from Sioux Falls, South Dakota Air National Guard deployed to Joint Base Balad, Iraq. This latest deployment brought more than 280 SDANG members to the Middle East in December 2009.

At least 27 members have more in common than just their assigned unit. The common denominator for almost 10 percent of the deployed personnel is that they all have relatives here with them. Each has a brother, sister, dad, husband, wife, son, daughter, or cousin deployed with them.

Having family connections is a unique factor for National Guard units across the nation and without the demographics from each state, it's impossible to confirm if South Dakota has the largest "family- tie." It's a safe bet, though, that the 114th has above average family participation.

According to Chief Master Sgt. Dain Sisson, the non-commissioned officer in charge of the Aircraft Maintenance Unit, and a fulltime Quality Assurance Superintendent with the 114th Fighter Wing, South Dakota, ANG, there are approximately 1,100 members in the wing. The U.S. Census Bureau's website states there are approximately 804,194 residents in the state, which equals an impressive .13 percent of South Dakotans are members of the South Dakota Air National Guard. Currently, about .04 percent of the nation's citizens are members of the Air Guard, (U.S. Census bureau Web site approximates there are 304,059,724 citizens as of July 2008 and ANG Web site approximates current manning of 106,756 Air National Guard members nationwide).

All calculated, the SDANG membership is more than three times the national average, so it makes sense that more than a few members are related.

This is Chief Sisson's second deployment to Balad with his son, Tech. Sgt. Justin Sisson, an F-16 crew chief and daughter, Staff Sgt. Jill Sisson, a weapons loader. The Sisson sibling's are on their third deployment together. Although away from his wife, Robin, and son Josh, the chief was still able to enjoy the Christmas holiday with family.

"At Christmas I was able to eat dinner with both my son and daughter. On New Years I had breakfast with my son and lunch with my daughter," said Chief Sisson. "Having the opportunity to deploy with my kids made it special, but whenever we deploy as a unit I feel they all are family. This may sound corny, but I think a lot of individuals feel that way. You work together, play together, laugh together and cry together -- that is what makes being a member of the South Dakota Air National Guard so special."

For brothers, Staff Sgt. Ryan Sullivan, a flight line avionics technician and Staff Sgt. Dustin Sullivan, an F-16 crew chief, this was an opportunity to spend time together. The brothers enlisted in the SDANG on the same day in June 2004.

"The best thing about having my brother here in Iraq is getting to see him every day at lunch. It's part of the daily routine, at home I usually only see him once a month," said Staff Sgt. Ryan Sullivan. "My brother and I both worked on Christmas Eve, Christmas day, New Year's Eve and New Years Day. I found out that my wife is pregnant on Christmas Eve, so that was definitely special."

Staff Sgt. Dustin Sullivan's wife is also pregnant. Even though the family aspect of the deployment is great, the members still know their job is their number one focus.

"The best part of my job is getting a pilot in the jet, getting it launched out and seeing it take off, I know that I am a major part of that jet flying," said Staff Sgt. Dustin Sullivan.

Another set of brothers, Staff Sgt. Daniel Lindsay, an aircraft metals technologist and Airman 1st Class David Lindsay who works with flight line avionics systems, are enjoying the benefits of a shared deployment.

"A highlight of this deployment is to be able to deploy with my brother. I had been here twice, so when I heard that there was another chance to come, and that it was going to be my brother's first time, I jumped at the opportunity," said Sgt. Daniel Lindsay. But like Sgt. Dustin Sullivan, he understands that the mission comes first.

He went on to say, "The best part of my job is being able to see the direct influence that I have in the operation of the aircraft and support equipment. When I worked as a civilian machinist, I was given a print and did not know what the part I was making was for, but here I am able to see the application of my work."

The 114th completes their deployment this month. The three sets of siblings and one dad have a total of 16 deployments to Joint Base Balad. With the current drawdown of troops underway, it is uncertain if there will be future deployments for the South Dakota Air National Guard to JBB. So, for the other 20 members of the SDANG who are related, namely the Benda's, Brende's, Doohen's, Ekeren's, Frock's, Hornstra's, Horstman's, Nelson's, Limke's, Sorenson's, and Witte's, only time will tell if they will share a "family meal" at a deployed location next year.