News

14 Reservists start journey to Iraq

  • Published
  • By Sandra Pishner
  • 446th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
Fourteen Reservists from the 446th Airlift Wing are honing their combat skills in preparation for deployment to Iraq. Twelve are from the 446th Civil Engineer Squadron and two are from the 446th Logistics Readiness Flight. 

The collection of carpenters, heavy equipment operators, and other specialists left Sept. 11 for four weeks of combat skills training at Fort McCoy, Wis. They'll be joining forces with the 200-member 819th Red Horse Squadron from Malmstrom AFB, Mont., as well as 20 more Reservists from Barksdale, La.  As a unit, they'll deploy to Iraq for a six-month stint. 

Once in Iraq, the combined active-duty and Reserve civil engineer unit will disperse to different locations. "Once we complete (the combat skills) training, we will depart for one of eight different locations in Iraq, Afghanistan or Qatar where we will support the Global War on Terror for an additional six months," said Capt. Chad Wright, 819th RHS section commander. 

Before departing for the combat skills training, the 446th CES Airmen reported to McChord to brush up on standard deployment skills and update personal readiness information. 

"It was a real challenge getting it all together," said Capt. George Lafrazia, 446th CES deploying officer in charge. "This deployment was sprung on us with fairly short notice. We're out of our AEF bucket. It's been a busy few weeks refreshing our training so it will stay current while we're deployed." 

"Normally, the 219th RHS supplements us when we deploy, but this time, they are unable to do so due to their own taskings," Captain Wright said. 

Among the challenges of deployment preparation was ensuring the CES Airmen had the right uniforms. 

"We ordered (Airmen Battle Uniforms) at the end of July and due to the long lead time, we had to beg, borrow and steal (desert camouflage uniforms) for everyone in order to send them to CST. We'll then ship their ABUs before they deploy (overseas)," said Staff Sgt. Rebeca Forgey, 446th CES assistant unit deployment manager. "This wouldn't have been possible without our security forces squadron and explosive ordnance disposal flight contributing uniforms to us on such short notice." 

As Reservists, getting spun up for a deployment is a two-side coin. Not only do the Airmen prepare themselves and their families, but they must prepare their civilian employers for their absence. 

Captain Lafrazia, who owns an electronics company in Vancouver, Wash., had to get his vice president and 130 employees prepped for his deployment. "There will be pressure on the remaining people in my company," he said. 

As a produce truck driver, Senior Airman Paul Ford knows he's leaving his employer short-handed. "They really needed me, but they're cool with it." Not quite as "cool with it," is his wife. 

"My wife made me promise to come back safe and to pray every night. So that's exactly what I'll do," said Airman Ford, who also leaves behind his two-year-old daughter. 

As the McChord team of Reservists wrapped up their travel preparations Sept. 10, Master Sgt. Robert Zundel, 446th CES deployment manager, said "I will worry and miss every one of you pains in the *##." To which Captain Lafrazia replied "Send us stuff." 

(Valerie Mullett, 341st Space Wing Public Affairs, Malmstrom AFB, Mont., contributed to this report)