Local Airmen to Be Deployed to Afghanistan

As the United States prepares to honor and recognized the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attack, airmen from Selfridge Air National Guard Base are preparing to deploy to Afghanistan to continue the fight against terrorism.

Nearly 300 Michigan Air National Guard airmen will report to active duty this month for deployment to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.  

The pilots, crew members, maintenance technicians and support personnel from the 127th Wing at Selfridge will serve four- to six-month tours of duty in Afghanistan. 

“Michigan’s Hometown Air Force is headed out to support the Soldiers and Marines on the ground in Afghanistan who may need top cover as they encounter the enemy,” said Col. Leonard Isabelle, 127th Operations Group commander, in a release. “We are fully trained and have proven we’re ready to go whenever called.” 

The Selfridge airmen will be part of a unit flying the A-10 Thunderbolt II, and is one of the largest single deployments from the Harrison Township base in recent years. This past year more than 200 airmen have been deployed throughout this year, including a KC-135 Stratotankers deployed to southern Europe in support of Operation Odyssey Dawn in Libya.  

"The men and women of the 127th Maintenance Group and the 127th Operations Group have done a marvelous job rising to the challenge and the milestone we passed on June 30 (being designated operationally capable) proves they have what it takes to operate this weapon system, as they are now called to the fight," said Col. Gregory S. Holzhei, 127th Maintenance Group commander, in a release.

As these airmen prepare to deploy, construction specialists from the 127th Wing returned home last week from a six-month deployment in Afghanistan.

“We know when we deploy like this, it’s not just our military families who experience a loss. Our community corporations, organizations, and small businesses also carry the burden of these patriotic men and women serving so far away. We couldn’t do this mission without the continued support of our communities,” said Col. Michael Thomas, 127th Wing commander, in a release.

This is the first deployment of the 107th Fighter Squadron, nicknamed the “Red Devils,” with the A-10 Thunderbolt II. For more than a decade, the 107th Fighter Squadron has been deployed:

• 1997 to Kuwait for Operation Southern Watch
• 1999 to Incirlik, Turkey, in support of Operation Northern Watch
• 2001 to Prince Sultan Air Base, Saudi Arabia for Operation Southern Watch
• Spring 2003 to Incirlik, Turkey, in support of Operation Northern Watch—which marked the first time since World War II the unit dropped weapons (over Iraq)
• 2004 for Operation Iraqi Freedom as the first USAF F-16 unit based in Iraq, at Kirkuk Air Base (the unit participated in the Battle for Fallujah)
• 2007 for Operation Iraqi Freedom based at Balad Air Base

Since Sept. 11, 2001, the 127th Wing has deployed nearly 3,800 personnel around the world.

“As our nation pauses to remember the terror attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, it is important to remember that the events of that day continue to impact our service personnel and so many others in public service,” Thomas said. “The people of Michigan can be rightly proud of the work their sons and daughters are doing and continue to do not only here at Selfridge but while forward deployed to wherever their country needs them.”