317th Airlift Group commemorates 2,000 days deployed

  • Published
  • By Lt. Col. Grant L. Izzi
  • 317th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron commander
DYESS AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  The Fourth of July marked 2,000 consecutive days the 317th Airlift Group has been deployed in support of Overseas Contingency Operations.

"(This) marks another great historical footnote in the 317th and their storied history dating from World War II to now Afghanistan, Iraq and Africa," said Col. Bernard E. Mater, 317 AG commander. "The 317th continues to answer the nation's call to freedom.

"We get down, we get our hands dirty and we succeed because we are American Airmen," he added. "We believe in what we do, we embrace our 'Herk' mission, and we believe in doing our jobs to the very best of our ability."

The group has accumulated several other operational achievements. Last year the 317 AG flew over 8,600 combat sorties, and moved over 310,000 combat troops and 11,000 tons of cargo.

"The 317th is all in and we always have been as our people continue to answer our nation's call, every time, safely and effectively," said Lt. Col. Joe Sexton, 317 AG operations deputy commander.

Other achievements the group has been awarded include: five straight Air Force flight safety plaques, ten straight Air Force outstanding unit awards, the Air Force maintenance effectiveness award, numerous excellent and above ratings for all major inspections, and "Best C-130 Team" for the 2007 Air Mobility Command Airlift Rodeo.

Since Sept. 11, 317 AG deployment managers have deployed more than 10,000 Airman coordinating and managing the unit's overall deployment readiness.

"The people are the ones who have made the difference," said Chief Master Sgt. Michael Mildenberg, 317 AG superintendent.

When asked about the commitment to excellence and why the group has done so well over the past 2,000 days, 317 AG unit deployment manager Tech. Sgt. Bradley Jensen said, "When you are surrounded by excellence, it becomes addictive and you enjoy the success; yes, the sand and heat suck real bad, but it's a good kind of suck."