JOINT BASE CHARLESTON, S.C. –
Team Charleston welcomed home more than 250 Airmen after a deployment to Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar.
During their deployment, the 15th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron “Global Eagles” flew more than 500 missions around the globe, airlifting more than 47 million pounds of cargo in support of Operations Inherent Resolve, Spartan Shield, Atlantic Resolve, and others.
This deployment marked Joint Base Charleston’s first force element deployment under the new Air Force Force Generation model known as AFFORGEN. Maintainers, support personnel, and aircrew worked diligently to ensure around-the-clock success for the expeditionary squadron and their C-17 Globemaster III cargo aircraft.
Lt. Col. Brad Fisher, 15th EAS commander, said their deployment was a unique opportunity to show how AFFORGEN and the multi-capable airman concept can help power the downrange mission.
“We brought our team from 18 career fields and eight aircraft across the world to serve as the United States’ only forward-deployed C-17A squadron,” Fisher said. “Eventually, the unit expanded to include over 350 personnel and 17 aircraft. Having all of the necessary personnel deployed together in one unit to fix, support, and fly our aircraft, was a game-changer.
Whether through pioneering AFFORGEN or continuing to evolve the capabilities of the C-17, JB Charleston Airmen continue to push the boundaries of innovation to accelerate change and win.
“On one hand, these Airmen provided great hope through our aeromedical evacuation, humanitarian aid, and refugee repatriation missions,” Fisher said. “On the other hand, they enabled decisive action by airlifting tanks, aircraft, articles of war, Soldiers, weapons, ammunition, air defense systems, and the list goes on.
“There are few aircraft in the United States inventory so equally capable of providing both hope and violence of action,” Fisher said. “The Airmen of the 15th EAS made something incredibly difficult look very easy, despite immense pressures and challenging conditions.”
The Global Eagles returned home, with mission success, answering their nation’s call so that others may prevail.