10th Airlift Squadron returns home

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Kirsten Wicker
  • 62nd Airlift Wing Public Affairs
MCCHORD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. --  More than 120 Airmen from the 10th Airlift Squadron returned Wednesday evening from a 120-day deployment to Southwest Asia as part of Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom.

The 10th AS members were deployed as the 817th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron from May to November. The squadron flew a record 3,400 sorties acquiring more than 8,100 flying hours.

The 10th AS airlifted more than 117 million pounds of combat sustainment cargo and transported more than 150, 000 Airmen, Soldiers, Marines and Sailors throughout Southwest Asia and central command. Additionally, in support of U.S. and coalition forces, they also transported approximately 76 critical patients from theater to advanced medical care in Germany.

The McChord-based Airmen broke another record by flying 144 combat airdrop missions and delivering more than 3,500 bundles of resupply material to remote forward operating bases in Afghanistan. The combat airdrop mission aided in improving force protection by eliminating the need for resupply convoys to forward locations.

"I'm extremely proud of our Airmen on this deployment," said Lt. Col. James Shigekane, 10th AS commander. "We had a very young squadron in terms of age and everyone really stepped up and showed leadership and teamwork."

Colonel Shigekane went on to say, "We are very grateful to our families for the sacrifices they make every day. It is four times as hard for them and they did a great job supporting us while we were away. It feels so good to be home and we were overjoyed to have them share in the moment of our return."

Colonel Shigekane said there was no question about the importance of what they were doing and he personally would like to thank every member of the 10th AS for putting forth the extra effort to get the mission accomplished.

"Today's safe return of our 10th AS teammates is a reminder of how we're collectively delivering freedom and saving lives every day," said Maj. Jeff Banker, a C-17 Globemaster III pilot from the 10th AS. "We are very impressed with the 10th AS's outstanding performance in this high visibility, no-fail mission and are proud of all their achievements."

Upon their return home the 10 AS will be afforded time for their Airmen to be with their friends and family. They will begin to re-establish their normal work routines and start their training cycles in preparation for their next deployment.