Deployment

PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. – Senior leaders from the Air Force Reserve Command’s 302nd Airlift Wing salute a C-130H aircraft departing Peterson Air Force Base's flightline. Approximately 150 Air Force Reservists and four C-130s from the 302nd Airlift Wing are serving on a four-month deployment to Southwest Asia in support of Operation Freedom’s Sentinel. The aircraft, aircrews and support personnel will provide airlift, airdrop and aeromedical evacuation support to operations throughout the U.S. Central Command Area of Responsibility. (U.S. Air Force photo/Daniel Butterfield)

Colorado Reservists to support Southwest Asia airlift ops

Published Jan. 12, 2016
By 302nd Airlift Wing Public Affairs

PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. -- Approximately 150 Air Force Reservists and four C-130s from Colorado’s 302nd Airlift Wing have begun a four-month deployment to Southwest Asia in support of Operation Freedom’s Sentinel.

Assigned to the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing based at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar, the aircrew, aircraft maintainers and support personnel will provide airlift, airdrop and aeromedical evacuation support to operations throughout the U.S. Central Command Area of Responsibility.

“The flying training missions we conduct in Colorado have been critical in preparing our crews for deployment operations,” said Col Jay Pittman, 302nd Airlift Wing commander.

This scheduled rotation of aircraft and personnel is the fifth deployment of this type since 2005 for the Reserve airlift wing stationed here.
Airmen and aircraft from the 302nd AW have deployed and provided airlift support for Operations Iraqi Freedom, Enduring Freedom and New Dawn.

The 302nd Airlift Wing is one of nine Air Force Reserve C-130 wings with an airdrop and airlift mission located throughout the nation and the only Air Force Reserve C-130 wing assigned the special Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System (MAFFS) mission.