CHARLESTON AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. –
In 2001, I was stationed at McChord AFB, Wash., as a C-141B pilot. Today, almost six years later and now a C-17 pilot, I have seen every version of our C-17 expeditionary airlift operations. From the dank, dungeon operations at Rhein-Main AB, Germany, to the hot and dusty tents of forward-operating bases, to our current lean, fighting machine: the two-EAS construct. But no matter where I was, it seemed one message always followed me.
In almost every single EAS operations area, I'd see a picture taken on Sept. 11 of the twin towers billowing with smoke after the first two of four attacks that day. Below the picture was the caption; "that's why." This not-so-gentle reminder was a way of reminding deployed Airmen of exactly why we were there.
In June and July of 2006, I had the honor to serve in the very first deployment of the two-EAS operations concept with the 17th Airlift Squadron. This simultaneous deployment of two EASs has significantly streamlined Air Mobility Command's C-17 mission into lean airlift machines making life more predictable for its aircrew and maintainers.
In September I deployed to Camp Eggers, in Kabul, Afghanistan as the regional engagement officer for Pakistan for the Combined Forces Command Afghanistan and Combined Strategic Transition Command Afghanistan. As the primary contact of all regional political military issues for the commanding generals of CFC-A and CSTC-A, I was privileged to see a side of the GWOT I had never seen before. I had the opportunity to observe an aspect of the war most Air Force officers never get to experience, which gave me a greater appreciation of what our sister services bring to the fight and just how much we rely on each other to get the mission accomplished. The biggest thing being how much the other services depend on strategic airlift -- nothing gets done in theater without airpower. Another experience I benefited from was being asked to give significant input through research, papers and talking points, which led to keeping the enduring relationships between the Afghanistan and Pakistan governments a reality.
During this 6-month deployment, like so many before, I realized once again exactly why we are here. To strengthen the ties of foreign governments and militaries while enabling them to become self-sufficient nations in the quest for a democratic society.