PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. – Airmen and Air Force Reserve Command C-130 Hercules from Colorado’s 302nd Airlift Wing left here today for a four-month deployment in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.  The Airmen are expected to provide airlift and aerial delivery support to operations in Southwest Asia to include Afghanistan.

The blended active duty and AF Reserve aircrews and aircraft maintainers will support airlift operations for U.S. Central Command.  Airlift missions are likely to include delivery of supplies, equipment and personnel as well as aeromedical evacuation missions.  The 302nd Airlift Wing and its associate active duty C-130 flying squadron, the 52nd Airlift Squadron, have been training and deploying together since October 2009 when the 52nd AS partnered with the Reserve Wing as part of the U.S. Air Force’s Total Force Integration initiative.

Training in Colorado is critical to preparing Airmen for real world operations.  “The training that we have been able to provide our aircrews [in Colorado] is the most realistic preparation for Afghanistan I know of.  We are able to contribute to our national security needs with excellent aircrew and aircraft,” said Lt. Col. Jason Terry, 52nd AS director of operations.

Airmen and aircraft from the 302nd AW have deployed in support of Operations Iraqi Freedom, Enduring Freedom and New Dawn since 2005. 

302nd Airlift Wing unit shield