SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. -- More than 80 Shaw members deploy today to the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility.
Approximately 350 Airmen have deployed or are about to deploy during Air Expeditionary Force one and two, said 2nd Lt. Charlene Peters, 20th Logistics Readiness Squadron assistant installation deployment officer.
More than 100 Airmen are deploying from the 20th Security Forces Squadron later this year.
“This is my first deployment and I am excited and ready to get there, do my job and return home so I can see my baby,” said Airman 1st Class Crystal Simpson, 20th LRS customer service representative.
Fifty of the deployed Airmen will be tasked with third country national escort taskings, Lt. Peters said. The rest of the deployed members will be doing their actual Air Force specialty coded duty.
Outprocessing for deployment is no easy task, she said. Airman must make sure their shot records, weapons training and chemical warfare training are up to date among other things.
Although there are many things Airmen must do prior to deployment, the 20th LRS has simplified most of the process and made it a “one stop shopping” outprocessing line, Lt. Peters said. All required work centers, including finance, public health and public affairs are available during this line to ensure the Airmen get necessary briefings before deployment.
This outprocessing line increases communication and makes everyone’s job a little easier, Lt. Peters said. It also helps Airmen mentally prepare for deployment.
During the outprocessing, Airmen are given transportation information.
If there are more than 25 Airmen deploying at the same time, a contract air carrier is preferred. It flies to Shaw, picks up the Airmen and flies them to Baltimore or Norfolk, Va. If there are between seven and 24 Airmen deploying at the same time, a bus is used. The bus will pick the Airmen up and drive them to Baltimore or Norfolk, Va.
If less than seven Airmen deploy, they are flying commercial aircraft out of Columbia, S.C. This is the most unpleasant way to deploy, Lt. Peters said, because the Airmen have to lug their bags through the airport and they may have more than one connecting flight on their way to Baltimore or Norfolk, Va.
Once the Airmen get to Baltimore or Norfolk, Va., they will fly in a commercial aircraft to their destination.
“The deployment process takes a lot of dedication, communication and teamwork,” Lt. Peters said, “but the most important aspect is for everyone to be prepared to deploy, even if it isn’t your AEF cycle.”