An official website of the United States government
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

'One team, no seam'

  • Published
  • By Senior Master Sgt. Burke Baker
  • 386th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
SOUTHWEST ASIA --  The 386th Air Expeditionary Wing underwent an aircraft and personnel swap out here this past week.

The swap out involved multiple C-130J Super Hercules aircraft and more than 100 personnel including pilots, maintenance specialists and support personnel assigned to the 737th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron and the 386th Expeditionary Maintenance Group.

The outgoing personnel and aircraft were deployed here from the 143rd Airlift Wing, Rhode Island Air National Guard, and had been on station since late October 2013, supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. The Guardsmen deployed as part of a regularly scheduled four-month Air Expeditionary Force rotation to provide air mobility support to the U.S. Central Command area of operations.

The Guardsmen supported U.S. efforts as part of OEF airlift operations, completing more than 400 sorties, airlifting more than 1,900 tons of cargo and more than 3,300 personnel.

They achieved these accomplishments while maintaining an amazing 99% mission completion rate.

Lt. Col. John Trovato, a Guardsman with the RIANG, commanded the 737th EAS during the rotation.

"I'm very proud of that mission effectiveness rate, very proud of only one sortie being cancelled in four months," he said. "It's mission first, and we did that."

Additionally, the Rhode Island Air Guardsmen served as military-to-military subject matter experts to other foreign Air Force units operating in the area of responsibility in an effort to maintain regional security and stability operations.

"What the Guard brings to the fight is continuity and a wealth of experience," said Trovato. "We have guys that have flown together between five to twenty years in the same unit. Our folks represented their families, themselves and the Rhode Island Air National Guard extremely well," he said.

Maintainers from the 143rd AW also played a huge role as members of the 386th Expeditionary Maintenance Group. During Rhode Island's rotation, the 386th EMXG achieved the best quarterly C-130 performance rates in the area of responsibility for mission capable rate, total non-mission capable for maintenance, total non-mission capable status, abort rates, Code 3 breaks, and cannibalization rates.

The Rhode Island maintainers earned high praise from Col. Michael O'Connor, the 386th EMXG commander.

"They definitely reminded everyone here why they are the 'old guard' of the C-130J community," he said. "They exceeded all my expectations...from the moment they hit the ground until the last aircraft was wheels up, their performance was nothing short of spectacular and produced some of the best maintenance rates the AOR has seen over the past year!"

"I wish them the best and look forward to serving with them in the future," said O'Connor.

Travoto was grateful for the opportunity.

"I'm extremely proud to be an Air National Guardsman and very honored to serve alongside our active-duty counterparts," he said. "We're happy that we contributed to the mission."

The incoming unit is deployed from the 146th Airlift Wing, California Air National Guard, based in Port Hueneme, Calif. Incoming 737th AES commander, Lt. Col. Keith Chikasawa, said he is looking forward to building on the momentum set by the RIANG.

"We are excited to be here," he said. "Our Airmen train continually to maintain a mission-ready status to ensure a seamless operation with our active-duty counterparts. Our highly experienced ANG force is ready to project tactical airlift power throughout the AOR."

"The bar is set and California aims to break it," said Chief Master Sgt. Troy Ballard, superintendent of the 386th Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron. "Arriving just a few days ago, the California Air National Guard's 146th AW team hit the ground running and again, demonstrated exceptional leadership through the generation of their first few sorties...all without a hitch," he said.

The Air National Guard's federal mission is to maintain well-trained, well-equipped units available for prompt mobilization to the combatant commander 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 Operation Enduring Freedom.

"We look forward to continued success with the C-130J, as well as helping our team from the Golden State, equally as we did for our patriots from the great state of Rhode Island," said Ballard.