Deploying is never easy

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Ebony Daughtry
  • 136th airlift Wing Public Affairs
NAVAL AIR STATION FORT WORTH JOINT RESERVE BASE, Texas --  Approximately 70 members from the 136th Airlift Wing departed from here to Southwest Asia Feb. 26, 2013, in support of the Air and Space Expeditionary Forces.

"This [deployment] is where you really experience the brotherhood of the military," said Tech. Sgt. Shelly Jackson, 136th Maintenance Squadron. "This unit is a part of my family, even though I will be missing my son's and wife's birthday; I will be with my guard family."

Representatives from the offices of Senators John Cornyn and Ted Cruz were on hand to thank the Airmen for their self-sacrifices and answering the call of duty as citizen Guardsmen representing Texas.

"This is what I was trained to do, so I feel like I am fulfilling my obligation," said Jackson.

For many members and their families, deployment is all too familiar. More than half of the service members have deployed multiple times since '9-11'.

"You never get used to it," said Master Sgt. Ferrier, 136th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, whose wife is feeling anxious. "This is my fifth deployment."

Despite the cold weather, military and family members waited on the flight line for the Wing' s C-130 aircraft to take-off carrying their loved ones on board. As the plane taxied onto the runway, a line of Airmen saluted the aircraft and family members waving farewell; some with tears and others with sadness.

"We are just trying to be positive," said, Jennifer Hood wife Tech Sgt. Christopher Hood, 136th Maintenance Squadron. "He will be missing his daughter's birthday this Friday ... he is hoping to communicate with us while deployed."

There was a thankful tone amongst the civilians for the sacrifices of the deploying service members who will be separated from their families for the next 60 to 180 days.

"I am feeling sad, but ok because they are going to a safer location," said Gordon Sr., Father of Staff Sgt. Gordon King Jr., 136th Maintenance Squadron. "Thank all the deploying service members for us," as he waved good bye to the passisng C-130.