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317th AG deploys

  • Published
  • By 1st Lt. Will Powell
  • 7th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
DYESS AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  Family, friends and fellow Airmen bid farewell to more than 200 317th Airlift Group Airmen before they deployed to Southwest Asia Oct. 12. 

As members of one of the most frequently deployed units in the Air Force, the Airmen and their family members are intimately familiar with the challenges and rewards associated with deployments. The 317th AG has been continuously deployed in support of the Global War on Terror since 9/11. 

The 39th and 40th Airlift Squadrons swap places in theater every four months, with many of the Airmen deploying twice a year. But in spite of the intense operations tempo, morale is high and the Airmen are still eager to help whenever and wherever needed, said Lt. Col. Mike Zick, 40th AS commander. 

"(The Airmen) know that what they do makes a difference, and they're glad to go and have the chance to make it happen," said the colonel, who also just deployed for the second time as the squadron commander. "Leaving doesn't get any easier, no matter how many times you deploy. But each time we count the hands, each time I look into their eyes and say it's 'deployment time' again, I get nothing but 'let's go and do this' attitude." 

Technical Sgt. Kevin Letz, 40th AS loadmaster, agreed that deploying never gets any easier for him and his family, no matter how routine or frequent the deployments become. Now on his fourth deployment since being assigned to the squadron, he calculates he has been deployed for three years since the GWOT began. 

"I love serving my country and I love my job, so in that aspect (deploying) is easy," the sergeant said. "But leaving my family gets more and more difficult." 

He said developing and enhancing relationships with his fellow crew members is one of the most rewarding parts of deploying. 

Although a large number of Airmen assigned to the group have deployed multiple times during the last couple years, there will always be some who have yet to deploy. Airman 1st Class Ryan Ledbetter, 317th Operations Support Squadron intelligence analyst, was in the deployment line for the first time. 

"I'm a little nervous and anxious, but I'm excited to be there and I'm ready to do my job," Airman Ledbetter said. "I have no idea what to expect, but everyone keeps telling me it's something I will enjoy." 

While still in upgrade training, he's confident all of his training over the past four months has prepared him for his duties overseas. 

"All the training I've had has led me up to this point, so I think I'm good to go," he said.
"I couldn't be any more proud of them," Colonel Zick said about the 317th AG members. "They are America's best, and I'm privileged to be associated with all of them."