150 Peterson reservists report for Iraq war duty

Headlines
August 24, 2005

Deployment is largest since 2001
By PAM ZUBECK THE GAZETTE

An Air Force Reserve unit this week started its largest deployment in nearly four years to support the Iraq war.

More than 150 members of the 302nd Airlift Wing based at Peterson Air Force Base, the first of a several-phase deployment, reported for active duty Monday and will leave soon for up to a year.

“All we know is it’s going to be soon,” said the wing’s deputy chief of public affairs, 2nd Lt. Jody Ritchie. “We don’t know date or time.”

Hundreds more are expected to be called up in coming months, but dates and numbers aren’t yet known, Ritchie said.

Those reporting hold civilian jobs, including commercial pilots, police officers and medical professionals, he said. “This particular mobilization is getting a good cross-section of those,” he said.

The 150-member deployment is the largest since 650 reservists from the wing reported in December 2001 to support air patrols over U.S. cities called Operation Noble Eagle and the Afghanistan war, dubbed Operation Enduring Freedom.

Aside from the 2001 deployment, the wing has activated small groups of 50 or fewer, until Monday, Ritchie said.

The deployment isn’t a surprise during a war that has relied heavily on National Guard and Reserve units. Today, they account for about 40 percent of the 138,000 U.S. military personnel in Iraq.

Pentagon plans call for beefing up personnel in Iraq by about 10,000 troops to provide security for the constitutional referendum slated for Oct. 15 and national elections Dec. 15. Military authorities expect violence to intesify around the elections as it did in January, when an election for an interim government was held.

Of those being deployed from Peterson, some will serve a second tour while others will be activated for the first time, Ritchie said.

Ritchie said the new deployment, which will send reservists “in theater” to either Iraq or to five or six surrounding countries where the Air Force has bases of operation, could top the 2001 activation.

While the 1,300-member wing has members scattered across the nation, the mobilization will pull heavily from the Front Range — Pueblo, Colorado Springs and Denver, he said

. “We have large numbers from the Front Range, but we have them from all over the state, as well as other states,” he said.

The wing’s mission is to train, equip and employ airlift forces. In addition to air crews, an undetermined number of the wing’s 15 aircraft —C-130H3s — will be mobilized.

Ritchie couldn’t provide information on future call-ups.

“We know there will be more phases but don’t know how many,” he said.

Those who have reported for duty are taking care of paperwork — such as financial matters, powers of attorney and wills — and receiving regular training they’ll miss during the yearlong mission.


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