7th AS deploys

  • Published
  • By 1st Lt. Erika Yepsen
  • 62nd Airlift Wing Public Affairs
MCCHORD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. --  Approximately 100 battle-ready Airmen from McChord's 7th Airlift Squadron left for the war zone to support the Global War on Terror Tuesday afternoon for a 120-day deployment.

It has been less than a year since the 7th AS returned home from its last deployment in July 2006.

The 7th AS Airmen will deploy as the 817th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron to various locations throughout Europe, Southwest Asia and the Middle East.

They will replace McChord's 8th Airlift Squadron, which is scheduled to return home in early July.

"We are excited to go help our joint partners by delivering the 'stuff to the fight' as a deployed airlift squadron. Living and working along side our Army partners at Fort Lewis, we understand the important mission we are jointly committed to in the Global War on Terror," said Lt. Col. Brian Newberry, 7th AS commander.

McChord's four active duty flying squadrons share responsibility for the deployed squadron.

The 817th EAS, headquartered at Incirlik Air Base, Turkey, is responsible for scheduling, planning and executing all C-17 Globemaster III missions into the U.S. Central Command's area of responsibility including Afghanistan and Iraq.