Bats return to Southwest Asia

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Damon Kasberg
  • 7th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
DYESS AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  More than 300 servicemembers from Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, deployed to Southwest Asia July 19.

Airmen from the 9th Bomb Squadron, 7th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, 7th Munitions Squadron and 7th Operations Support Squadron deployed in support of U.S. Air Force Central Command.

"The team's first mission is to get our jets up and running," said Lt. Col. Brian Dickenson, 9th BS in garrison commander. "It takes a lot of work and it's a group effort that involves life support, intel, maintainers, weapons and aircrews working as one, in order to provide close air support to our troops on the ground."

While members of the 9th BS have deployed numerous times in the last decade, there are always Airmen who are experiencing their first tour overseas.

"I'm excited and nervous at the same time," said Airman 1st Class Kevin Tagle, 9th BS aviation resource manager. "My dad is excited for me because he was prior military. The rest of my family is pretty nervous about it, but I tell them I'm ready to go do my job."

For more seasoned Airmen with multiple deployments under their belt, they find themselves more prepared and willing to share their knowledge with others.

"This is my second deployment," said Capt. Christian Hoover, 9th BS pilot. "I feel more confident this time. I know what to expect and I want to help the first-time deployers. I tell them what to anticipate and what their daily routine might consist of, because it's obviously different from being at home station."

Throughout the years Dyess and the 9th BS have sent many Airmen around the world to support the Air Force mission, but the expectations of them have never changed.

"There is no doubt that our Airmen are going to go out there and perform with excellence," Dickenson said. "These are the most professional and creditable Airmen out there. They will take the lethality of the B-1 to our enemies, in order to keep our fellow men and women in uniform safe."