Fighting the war on terror

Brig. Gen. David Goldfein, 49th Fighter Wing commander, Chief Master Sgt. Jerome Baker, 49th Communications Squadron, and Master Sgt. Stephen Hampton, 49 CS first sergeant, say goodbye bye to the Airmen who left from Holloman Sept. 17 for Southwest Asia. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Heather Stanton)

Fighting the war on terror

Airman Marcus Carpenter helps his wife, Airman 1st Class Jenna Carpenter, both 49th Civil Engineer Squadron firefighter, load luggage onto a truck before boarding an airplane to Southwest Asia from Holloman Sept. 17. The husband and wife team are a part of more than 20 people left in support of the war on terror. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Heather Stanton)

Holloman sends more Airmen to Southwest Asia

Published Sept. 17, 2007
By Airman 1st Class Heather Stanton
49th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

HOLLOMAN AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. -- Holloman loaded up the last of three mass deployment missions leaving for Southwest Asia out of here Sept. 17.

More than 400 Airmen have left Holloman in support of the war on terror since the beginning of September and approximately 200 more will leave before October.

A mass deployment is when a substantially large group of Airmen take a commercial airline from Holloman to the same place in the area of responsibility, said 1st Lt. Brandon Strickland, 49th Logistics Readiness Squadron assistant installation deployment officer. This saves the Air Force money instead of sending smaller groups and individuals out through the El Paso Airport.

The first mission sent approximately 30 Airmen from the 49th Civil Engineer Squadron to the AOR in their respective careers such as electricians and plumbers. The second sent around 60 Airmen to Southwest Asia for third country national escort duty, and the third had more than 20 Airmen from the 49 CES fire department, 49 LRS and 49th Communications Squadron.

According to Col. Mark Engeman, 49th Mission Support Group commander, the Air Force deploys in bigger units for continuity in the AOR.

Within this last mission, was a husband and wife couple deploying for the first time.

"It is easier we are both going to the same place at the same time," said Airman Marcus Carpenter, 49 CES firefighter. "It will be easier to keep the communication with her working alongside me."

Airman 1st Class Jenna Carpenter, 49 CES firefighter, said that having her husband deployed with her will allow her to call her family more often.

Both are excited to be going and doing their part in the war on terror.

Holloman continues to support its Airmen currently deployed and awaits their safe return back to the Friendliest Place on Earth.