7th AS returns home after 60-day deployment Published Dec. 5, 2012 62nd Airlift Wing Public Affairs JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. -- More than 80 Airmen from McChord Field's 7th Airlift Squadron were greeted by family and friends Dec. 4 after a 60-day deployment in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. The Airmen were deployed as the 817th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron. They were accompanied by Airmen from the 446th AW and others from Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska, and Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii. The 817th EAS mission was to provide global strategic airlift, airdrop, aeromedical evacuation and humanitarian relief, to create an air bridge for personnel, equipment and supplies throughout the assigned areas of responsibility. "The men and women of the 7th Airlift Squadron and our accompanying partner squadrons performed magnificently during this deployment," said Lt. Col. William Mickley III, 7th AS commander. "Together they formed an outstanding team and provided a great service to theater commanders. They are a testament to the United States Air Force, Air Mobility Command and their respective units both individually and collectively. I'm extremely proud of each of them and their many accomplishments over the course of this deployment." During their deployment, the C-17 squadron flew more than 703 sorties, moved more than 50,000 passengers and delivered more than 21 million pounds of combat sustainment cargo for U.S. military forces in and out of the U.S. Central Command area of operations. The 62nd AW's four active-duty flying squadrons share responsibility for the deployed squadron and rotate operating the 817th EAS continuously. The deployments allow Air Mobility Command to consistently position assets closer to the areas of responsibility.