176th Wing begins largest deployment since 2003

   [ May 2012 / 6 images ]

JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska - Senior Airman Donald Haretuku, an aircrew flight equipment specialist for the Alaska Air National Guard's 176th Operations Support Squadron, plays the guitar and sings with family and friends while waiting to depart Alaska for Afghanistan May 28, 2012. More than 180 members of the Alaska Air National Guard's 176 Wing are deploying for about four months in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. (Alaska Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Shannon Oleson)
JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska - Master Sgt. Dennis Mobley, a helicopter crew chief with the Alaska Air National Guard's 176th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, spends some quality time with his daughter Kailee and his wife, Heidi, while waiting to depart Alaska for Afghanistan May 28, 2012. More than 180 members of the Alaska Air National Guard's 176th Wing are deploying for about four months in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. (Alaska Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Shannon Oleson)
JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska - Airman 1st Class Steven Wahl, a helicopter crew chief with the Alaska Air National Guard's 176th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, kisses his mom, Kim, and wraps his arm around his sister, Karissa, as he prepares to leave for Afghanistan May 28, 2012. Wahl is flanked by his father, Nick, and his cousin, Tiffany Stroman. More than 180 members of the Alaska Air National Guard's 176th Wing are deploying for about four months in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. (Alaska Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Shannon Oleson)
JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska - Members of the Alaska Air National Guard's 176 Wing load an HH-60 'Pave Hawk' search and rescue helicopter onto a C-17 'Globemaster III' for a four-month deployment to Afghanistan May 28, 2012. The helicopter is a part of a package of equipment and crew that is deploying in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. (Alaska Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Shannon Oleson)
JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska - Members of the Alaska Air National Guard's 176 Wing load an HH-60 'Pave Hawk' search and rescue helicopter onto a C-17 'Globemaster III' for a four-month deployment to Afghanistan May 28, 2012. The helicopter is a part of a package of equipment and crew that is deploying in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. (Alaska Air National Guard photo by Capt. John Callahan)
JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska - Deploying members of the Alaska Air National Guard's 176 Wing shake hands with their commander, Col. Scott Wenke, as they board a C-17 for Afghanistan May 28, 2012. More than 180 members of the wing are deploying to Afghanistan for about four months in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. (Alaska Air National Guard photo by Capt. John Callahan)