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COMBAT TRUCKERS: 'We haul ours to save yours!'

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Michael O'Connor
  • 386th Air Expeditionary Wing public affairs
SOUTHWEST ASIA --  Editor's note: This is the first of a three part series titled "Combat Truckers." The series takes a look at how a group of vehicle operators have paved their way into history and their fellow Airmen who make their unique mission happen.

While most Airmen perform the exact same skill set at their deployed location as they do at home, that's not necessarily the case for the 2T1--vehicle operators. Their unique deployed mission set requires them to fly, fight, 'DRIVE,' and win.

After driving 10.9 million miles while coming under attack by the enemy 268 times during 909 convoy missions, Airmen from the 586th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron have been awarded 10 Purple Hearts, 110 Bronze Stars, and a host of other medals for their bravery and courage under fire.

Long gone are the days when vehicle operators deploy to an air base to ferry passengers, bags, and cargo to and from the flightline at 10 to 15 miles per hour.

"What people should understand about this particular ELRS is that it has a different mission than any other LRS in the Air Force," said Lt. Col. Kevin Sampels, 586th ELRS commander who commands the 324 Airmen assigned to the 70th and 424th Medium Truck Detachments. "We're at ground zero in the war and that's not the normal operation for a deployed ELRS that is typically operating inside of a forward operating base supporting the aircraft mission."

The 586th ELRS is joined at the hip with the Army's 1st Theater Support Command, 640th Sustainment Brigade, 1144th Transportation Battalion, located at a camp in the Persian Gulf Region, which tasks the 70th and 424th for the missions they conduct.

Vehicle operators have been putting the pedal to the metal while facing enemy ambushes, improvised explosive device, and explosively formed penetrator attacks right alongside their Army brethren since they began supporting the in-lieu-of taskings in Feb. 2004.

"Airmen inside the 2T1 career field can expect to deploy to the 586th ELRS at least once," said Colonel Sampels. "But in all likelihood, it'll be several times as there are already several non-commissioned officers between the 70th and 424th who are on their third and even fourth tours of duty between the gun truck and line haul convoy operations combined--some with more than 220 combat missions."

"We have highly trained Airmen providing a myriad of critical logistics functions in support of Army forces," said Colonel Sampels. "Their mission, in a nut shell, is to deliver equipment, vehicles, supplies and other materials to the FOBs in Iraq."

"What we do on daily basis ... the training, the preparation, the mindset ... that no matter who you are, or what you do, or why you serve ... everyone comes together as a team, and that's crucial for a successful convoy operation," said Airman 1st Class Wilson Hernandez Jr. deployed from the 316th LRS, Andrews Air Force Base, Md., who recently completed his first convoy with the 70th driving the maintenance truck to keep the line hauls moving.

Five rotations and 30 months since the vehicle operators took on their new ILO mission they've delivered more than 1.75 million short tons of cargo, and continue to move materials that can't normally be flown out to the FOBs.

"We definitely have an impact on Operation Iraqi Freedom, because without the deliveries we bring in, they wouldn't be able to sustain their operations," said Tech. Sgt. Scott Neu, a 14-year-veteran and native of Trenton, Ohio. "This is my third tour of duty involved with convoys and my second as a convoy team lead or convoy commander for the 70th. You can't get nervous and freak out in my position because the others on your team will see it. You have to develop a layer of toughness. You can't focus on the dangers; when it's your time, it's your time."

Since the 586th ELRS's 70th and 424th MTDs began commanding convoy operations up and down the 31,000-plus mile stretch of highways in Iraq and Persian Gulf Region, these combat Airmen have learned how to lead from the front.

"These Airmen continue to prove they're worth their weight in gold as they tackle the potential enemy ambushes, IED, EFP and complex attacks which lurk alongside every inch of the roadways they operate on in Iraq," said Colonel Sampels.

"I think this experience has been one of the greatest things I've ever done, being a part of the military, the Air Force, this unit," said Airman Hernandez who's on his first deployment since joining the Air Force 22 months ago from Catano, Puerto Rico. "I think I've matured a lot since I've joined the military and I think the way my family looks at me has changed--my dad, my mother; they're so proud of me and always talk highly of me--it's different, it's nice you know."

"In the beginning, Airmen had to weld sheets of metal together on their gun trucks for protection against all kinds of attacks," said Chief Master Sgt. Carl Hunsinger, 386th Air Expeditionary Wing command chief master sergeant and former gun truck vehicle operator. "These enlisted combat road warriors have been, and continue still today, to lay their lives on the line as they pilot ground convoy missions throughout the AOR."

From his first mission in 2004 until now, Sergeant Neu, deployed from the 96th LRS, Eglin AFB, Fla., said he has a better idea of what to expect out on the road.

"When we first deployed in 2004, we had no idea what we were getting into, but now we know the game and are as ready as we can be," said Sergeant Neu.

"The biggest difference between the gun truck days and the line hauling is the personal protective gear, the equipment, and the vehicles have all significantly improved," said Chief Hunsinger who's getting ready to hit the 30-year-mark of his Air Force career. "It's all about saving lives and minimizing damage to the trucks."

To date, five Airmen associated with these gun trucks and now line haul missions have been killed in action, three of which were assigned to 586th ELRS.

"Commanding a combat unit that is directly involved in the Global War on Terrorism has been the highlight of my career," said Colonel Sampels, a native of Bend, Oregon, who's deployed from the 48th LRS, Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England. "Every operation that's being conducted is vitally important, but for me, this particular command has been a phenomenal experience. I have greatly enjoyed working with my fellow logistics Airmen who are bravely providing a service and conducting a mission that is not only extremely dangerous, but key to the fight.

"The operation here is as exciting today as the first day I arrived six months ago," said Colonel Sampels. "It's thrilling to see these young logistics warriors leave our camp and come back up to 14 days later, knowing they've seen and been right in the middle of the battle--it makes the hair on the back of my neck stand up--it's absolutely terrific."