Getting it done: 931st Airmen deploy in support of Southwest Asia operations

  • Published
  • By Brannen Parrish
  • 931st ARG/PA
MCCONNELL AIR FORCE BASE, Kan. --  The 931st Air Refueling Group staff successfully deployed Reservists in support of ongoing military operations in Southwest Asia June 29 to July 1.

Support personnel from the group's Logistics Readiness and Financial Management offices as well as the 931st Force Support Squadron have spent the past two weeks preparing more than 100 Airmen to serve down range.

"We've been in a constant state of mobilization and pre-mobilization activities," said Lt. Col. Clint Burpo, 931st ARG logistics readiness officer. "We're looking forward to a little bit of a break."

During the most recent string of deployments the 931st has collaborated with Guard and Reserve units.

"We've been working with other Guard and Reserve units at Travis Air Force Base, Sky Harbor Air National Guard Base, Tinker Air Force Base, MacDill Air Force Base, Seymour Johnson Air Force Base and Maguire Air Force Base to fill AEF deployment requirements," said Colonel Burpo.

The 931st is providing Airmen from from various career fields including, air crew, maintainers, and medical personnel.

Colonel Daniel J. "Rock" Heires, Commander, 931st Air Refueling Group visited with groups of deploying Airmen after they boarded the planes that would shuttle them down range, thanking them and their families.

Colonel Heires reiterated the value of Reserve Forces in joint and coalition operations.
"No combatant commander can do his mission without mobility forces and the Reserve Component comprises the vast majority of mobility forces," He said. "If we didn't do our job they couldn't do their job. To put it simply -- but for us, they couldn't get it done."

Colonel Heires noted that Airmen are participating in military operations to guard higher ideals and principles.

"If you look at where we are going around the globe, the fight remains against tyranny, oppression and persecution." Colonel Heires said. "We give of ourselves so that others may live in freedom."