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305th AMW's 6th Airlift Squadron returns home from deployment

  • Published
  • By 1st Lt Karl Johnson
  • 6th Airlift Squadron
JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. --  Eight Airmen from the 305th Air Mobility Wing's, 6th Airlift Squadron, returned March 5 from a three month leadership deployment to Southwest Asia.

Airmen with the 305th Aerial Port Squadron, Detachment 1, working out of Baltimore/Washington Thurgood Marshall International Airport welcomed the team home.

The 6th AS is the oldest airlift squadron in the Air Force, providing global air mobility using the C-17 Globemaster III cargo jet.

Lt. Col. Doug Hall, commander 385th AEG, Det. 1, led members from both the 6th AS and the 305th Operations Group Intelligence Flight who became a part of the 385th Air Expeditionary Group in Southwest Asia. The 385th AEG members executed an average of six sorties a day supporting the U.S. withdrawal from Iraq as well as operations in Afghanistan.

The deployed team provided airlift support to the 9th Air and Space Expeditionary Task Force-Iraq Commander, Maj. Gen. Donald Handy, and the Director of the Iraqi Training and Advisory Mission, Maj. Gen. Anthony J. Rock, on the final mission out of Iraq.

"I'm proud of the crews and I thank them for their service and dedication. We were all counting on them," said Capt. Timothy Rolling, Assistant Director of Operations for the 385th AEG Det. 1.

The group transported more than 40,000 passengers, accounting for nearly 20 percent of all service members deployed for Operation Enduring Freedom throughout the six-month period.

The team did more than just move the mission; they also organized and participated in the 385th AEG's open house to help improve relations with the local populace.

"I can't say enough about how great it was to have this team participate in the open house," said Col. Michael Zick, 386th Air Expeditionary Wing commander. "It was a homerun indeed."

The 305th AMW's deployed members weren't the only ones facing a demanding operations tempo. Major Marc Greene, 6th AS Director of Operations, took the reins at home station, filling in during Hall's deployment with the 385th AEG. Greene led the squadron through a 140% surge in taskings to meet real world requirements given by the 18th Air Force.

The 6th AS conducted an array of missions to various locations throughout the Middle-East, Africa and the US Central Command Area of Responsibility, transporting numerous dignitaries and flag officers. The Deputy Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter praised the team after they transported him through Afghanistan.

The unit's dedication at home station impressed those closer to home, too.

"I have been extremely impressed by how well the crews have performed here despite the manning constraints and surge in operations," said Greene. "The tremendous success just continues the long and distinguished heritage of 6th Airlift Squadron, the 'Bully Beef.'"