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380AEW Article

Michigan Air National Guard team finishes deployment with force support squadron in Southwest Asia

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Scott T. Sturkol
  • 380th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
SOUTHWEST ASIA --  Supporting nearly every facet of the 380th Expeditionary Force Support Squadron, nine Airmen deployed from the Michigan Air National Guard supported morale, welfare, recreation and fitness operations for more than four months for the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing at a non-disclosed base here.

The team, who includes Master Sgts. Dawn Porter and Brian Ward Sr., Staff Sgts. Jozette Allen, Rosetta Hargrove, Karen Staniek and Robert Jackson, and Senior Airmen Elizabeth Licari, Wytina Cathey and Larry Syska, deployed from the 127th Force Support Squadron at Selfridge Air National Base, Mich.

The Michigan team are like many Guardsmen supporting the Air National Guard's federal mission. According to the National Guard Bureau, that mission is to maintain well-trained, well-equipped units available for prompt mobilization during war and provide assistance during national emergencies (such as natural disasters or civil disturbances).

During peacetime, the combat-ready units and support units are assigned to most Air Force major commands to carry out missions compatible with training, mobilization readiness, humanitarian and contingency operations such as for Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan.

The Air National Guard provides almost half of the Air Force's tactical airlift support, combat communications functions, aeromedical evacuations and aerial refueling. In addition, the Air National Guard has total responsibility for air defense of the entire United States.

All of the Michigan team members are services Airmen. In the 380th EFSS, services support programs range a myriad of areas and each of the Hawaii Air National Guard team members support any one of them. According to the official Air Force job description for the 3M0X1 career field, services Airmen manage and direct services programs, operations and retail operations. They supervise and work in appropriated fund food service and lodging activities, recreation, fitness and sports programs, linen exchange operations, mortuary affairs programs, honor guard teams, and services readiness programs.

Sergeant Ward said he enjoys serving in the military and in the Air National Guard. In whatever capacity he serves, he said he knows it is very important and is a highly honorable thing to do.

"The reason I serve is because freedom comes with a price," Sergeant Ward said. "I enjoy my freedom and I want my great-grandchildren to have the same freedoms that I enjoy. My grandfather, my father, my uncles, my brothers and my wife and son all served in the military. The military is my family."

In supporting the 380th AEW, the nine Michigan Airmen supported the morale and welfare of more than 1,900 deployed personnel who in turn support operations Iraqi Freedom, Enduring Freedom, and the Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa.

"Services covers a wide arena -- from mortuary affairs, to lodging, food service, fitness and recreation," Airman Syska said. "So it is very important to have services in every deployed area to ensure that between a place to sleep and food to eat, the standards are kept above the board so everyone remains fit to fight. We, as services Airmen, also coordinate the morale boosting activities. A happy Airman is more likely to be able to work longer, harder and exceed standards."

Sergeant Jackson said he can speak for all the Michigan team members in saying they were all proud to support the deployment overseas.

"I understand that I protect and defend our nation's rights and causes by being out here," Sergeant Jackson said. "Every day I wake up it is a struggle, but knowing that somewhere in the United States there is a person with the freedom of speech and the right to stand up for what they believe in makes it all worth it. Knowing that my family is safe and living in a country that will allow them to pursue whatever they believe in is a motivating factor to keep going."

Sergeants Ward, Porter, Allen, Jackson and Hargrove are natives of Detroit, Mich. Sergeant Staniek is a native of Sterling Heights, Mich. Airman Licari is a native of Clinton Township, Mich., and Airman Syska is a native of Harrison, Mich.

The 380th AEW is home to the KC-10 Extender, U-2 Dragon Lady, E-3 Sentry and RQ-4 Global Hawk aircraft. The wing is comprised of five groups and 18 squadrons and the wing's deployed mission includes air refueling, air battle management, and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance in support of overseas contingency operations in Southwest Asia.