From the ocean to the desert: Retired Airman serves in Iraq

Published June 4, 2011
By Senior Airmen Chuck Broadway and Tristin English
9th Air and Space Expeditionary Task Force-Iraq Public Affairs

VICTORY BASE COMPLEX, Iraq -- Laying out on a sailboat listening to the waves hit the side, just off the coast of Malaysia, birds fly over with the sun high and not a cloud in the sky. A slight breeze opens the sails as the smell of sun screen and salt water catches your nose. Music softly resonates from shore as the love of your life hands you a cocktail. Could it get anymore perfect for a retired Air Force officer?

For James Hegland, a retired lieutenant colonel, he needed more. While looking at the internet on his boat deck he saw an opportunity to return to active duty after thirteen years of living the good life.

Now, Lt. Col. Hegland, the 9th Air Expeditionary Task Force-Iraq Air Component Coordination Element-Iraq lead and strategic planner ensures the Air Force has the right strategic vector in all the planning for the Air Force Component Support in Operation New Dawn.

"I got to represent the Combined Forces Air Component commander and the 9 AETF-I commander to the United States Forces-Iraq," said Hegland. "My inputs carried the weight of both my one and three star bosses so I had to be in sync with their thinking."

In his first deployment in 15 years, the Fort Walton Beach, Fla. native said that he was privileged to be a part of the staff, and it was the finest experience he could've imagined.

Previously, he served in the Cold War and Europe as a fighter pilot and while at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., he developed weapons used in Desert Storm and some which are still used today. He was then stationed at the Pentagon where he served several roles which he credits in helping him with the Iraq mission.

"The U.S. is being pulled in a number of directions," said Hegland. "[The Airmen] have one of the hardest jobs the Air Force has to offer. They are in a theater of diminishing focus and must get the job done while holding their personal lives together."

The colonel said he holds his life together by keeping in touch with his wife Nancy, a retired lieutenant colonel, through instant messaging, texting, and SKYPE. She fully understands the situation following several deployments herself during Desert Storm and Korea.

"The days of the infrequent Morale Welfare and Recreation calls to work locations, and the calling cards have been replaced," said Hegland. "Our bandwidths in Iraq were not always the best, but it's almost like being there. So from my perspective, keeping in touch on this tour was easy."

Keeping in touch may have been easy, however the first time he spoke with his boss, Brig. Gen. Russ Handy, 9th AETF-I ACCE-I commander, started off rough.

"The first time I approached my boss I was wild-eyed, with hair flying and crazy," he said. "A meeting had gone the wrong way and something was not going well in the planning. I was torn between what I thought the Air Force wanted and what was being pushed and was uncertain if I had it right."

Hegland said General Handy "validated" him and placed him on the right course in sync with his vision.

Shortly thereafter Hegland found himself tucked under a table in the dining facility during an attack. He said the attack was close, but seemed small compared to what others have to deal with. It provided a sense of the threat that exists in the world and how important the Airmen's role is.

"The world has changed, the ops tempo has changed and each of you has risen to the challenge," he said. "I am proud to have had the chance to serve with you."

Hegland is set to return to retirement in October 2011. His first retirement took him half way around the world to Malaysia, this time he may complete the circumnavigation of the world.

Mission accomplished