DYESS AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- Airmen and aircraft assigned to the 39th Airlift Squadron and 317th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron returned to Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, from a deployment to Afghanistan Sept. 17, 2018.
The deployment supported Operation Freedom’s Sentinel and Operation Resolute Support. While the main mission set was to transport personnel and cargo, these deployed 317th Airlift Wing Airmen also provided airdrop support, aeromedical evacuation and distinguished visitor airlifts.
While in Afghanistan, the Airmen flew over 500 missions and approximately 3,000 sorties. Within those times, they moved nearly 20,000 passengers, almost 15,000 tons of cargo between forward operating bases both in and out of the theater, and was selected to support over 200 distinguished visitors.
The aeromedical evacuation missions resulted in 64 patients successfully being airlifted to receive medical care, and the unit airdropped nearly 100 tons of critical supplies to friendly forces who were unable to receive aid through conventional methods.
Lastly, the Airmen supported several operations by being called on to offload almost 80,000 pounds of fuel at forward operating bases in hostile territory.
Capt. Amanda Montague, 39th AS director of staff , stated that overall the 39th AS successfully completed the deployment with an astounding 99.7 percent mission effectiveness rate.
With successful missions and a safe return home, Airmen walked out of the C-130Js with smiles on their faces as their families and friends came into view. Families and friends welcomed their Airmen home to a crowd with open arms and tear-streaked cheeks after months of separation.
“Not having my husband around and raising our daughter by myself turned out to be very stressful for me,” said Sarah Fernandez, spouse of Senior Airman Dyllan Fernandez, 317th AMXS crew chief. “So I am happy to have him back home with us.”