Screaming Eagles top airlift squadron in AMC

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Erik Hofmeyer
  • 746th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron
SOUTHWEST ASIA --  Airmen from the 746th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron enjoyed music, barbeque and great company during their squadron party April 16, and it was even sweeter knowing they've regained their status as the Air Mobility Command's top airlift squadron.

The squadron, known as the 40th Airlift Squadron "Screaming Eagles" at Dyess AFB, Texas, was selected out of 38 squadrons to receive the 2006 Smith Trophy award for the second time in three years.

"They already knew that they were the best in my eyes, but the Smith Trophy is an affirmation that they are the best, said Lt. Col. Michael Zick, 746th EAS commander.

The Screaming Eagles undertake a plethora of missions in support of the Global War on Terrorism while assigned to the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing.

The squadron airlifts personnel, supplies and equipment to the front lines either by airland or airdrop in support of operations in Iraq, Afghanistan and the Horn of Africa.

On several missions, the 746th supported the International Security Assistance Force during Operation Achilles, an operation geared toward supporting a secure environment for the Afghanistan government, by air-dropping thousands of warning leaflets over the mountainous terrain of southeastern Afghanistan to deter insurgent activity. Additionally, the squadron supported humanitarian flood relief missions in Africa.

Since the Air National Guard C-130 presence was demobilized from the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing in October 2006, the 40th AS and the 39th AS (its sister squadron at Dyess) have been swapping back and forth to meet the operations tempo.

The 746th Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Unit, also consisting of Airmen from Dyess AFB, continually deploys alongside the two flying squadrons.

"Right now it's 'Dyess Primetime, all the time,'" Colonel Zick said. "We call it 'Team Dyess' because Airmen from Dyess AFB are responsible for all the 379th AEW's tactical airlift right now."

"The award wouldn't be possible without the maintainers," he said. "They're always there for us, and we're always there for them."

With the high operations tempo, constant rotations aren't viewed as a hindrance, but seen as a welcomed challenge.

"When we were preparing to come over here, we sat everybody down and said 'we're going over here, but we can only take a certain number of people, so who wants to stay home?' And nobody raised their hand," Colonel Zick said. "When we told some people that they had to stay home, you would have thought we just hit them in the face, so to speak. It was definitely a let down for a lot of people."

The familiarity and experience gained by aircrews through the multiple deployments is a valuable asset to air mobility and forces on the ground.

"This is my first tour as an aircraft commander, but I've been out here three other times," said Capt. Brian Williams, 746th EAS pilot. "I've probably had one of the best crews that I've ever flown with, and they made my job easy. Without a doubt, the people are the reason why the 40th won the award."

"We have a great time out here," said Staff Sgt. Trish Moore, 746th EAS loadmaster. "A lot of people are chomping at the bit to get back out here. I know I was; I pleaded to come back."

"The squadron mission is awesome. We all love doing it, and they know what they're doing matters, but bottom line is that all of these Airmen earned it together, and I couldn't be more proud of them," Colonel Zick said.