Channel Islands ANGS Security Forces Leave for Saudi Published Dec. 2, 2009 By Maj. Kimberly Holman 146 AW Channel Islands, ANGS, Calif. -- More than 40 Airmen of the 146th Airlift Wing's Security Forces Flight left Oct. 18 for a six-month tour to Saudi Arabia in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. The Airmen will be conducting routine air base defense and are trained in various areas of law enforcement. The first leg of their tour takes them via the 146th's own C-130J to Fort Dix for premobilization combat skills training. Wing Commander Col. Paul Hargrove was there to see his troops off. "I want to thank the security forces personnel and their families for participating in this long deployment. I know it is difficult to leave your families, especially for extended periods of time, and how hard it is on the family members to be left without their husband, wife, father, or mother. We all wish them a safe deployment and look forward to their quick and safe return," he said. Chief Master Sgt. Steve Timbol is the Security Forces Manager and was also present during the deployment activities that morning. "I was impressed with how the wing came together and worked as a team to get them out smoothly, even with last minute changes. We had one girl who stepped up as a last minute substitution and we had her ready to go in two days' time. People worked on their days off, and were even stitching the rank on her new desert uniforms as she went through the deployment line," he said. The 146th SFF deployed in 2007 to Kirkuk Air Base, Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and provided armed security in a hostile environment, responding to more than 20 rocket attacks while reinforcing the base perimeter. The Airmen received the Governor's Outstanding Unit Award that year for their outstanding performance while deployed, and received the same award in 2008 upon their return.
Channel Islands ANGS Security Forces Leave for Saudi Published Dec. 2, 2009 By Maj. Kimberly Holman 146 AW Channel Islands, ANGS, Calif. -- More than 40 Airmen of the 146th Airlift Wing's Security Forces Flight left Oct. 18 for a six-month tour to Saudi Arabia in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. The Airmen will be conducting routine air base defense and are trained in various areas of law enforcement. The first leg of their tour takes them via the 146th's own C-130J to Fort Dix for premobilization combat skills training. Wing Commander Col. Paul Hargrove was there to see his troops off. "I want to thank the security forces personnel and their families for participating in this long deployment. I know it is difficult to leave your families, especially for extended periods of time, and how hard it is on the family members to be left without their husband, wife, father, or mother. We all wish them a safe deployment and look forward to their quick and safe return," he said. Chief Master Sgt. Steve Timbol is the Security Forces Manager and was also present during the deployment activities that morning. "I was impressed with how the wing came together and worked as a team to get them out smoothly, even with last minute changes. We had one girl who stepped up as a last minute substitution and we had her ready to go in two days' time. People worked on their days off, and were even stitching the rank on her new desert uniforms as she went through the deployment line," he said. The 146th SFF deployed in 2007 to Kirkuk Air Base, Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and provided armed security in a hostile environment, responding to more than 20 rocket attacks while reinforcing the base perimeter. The Airmen received the Governor's Outstanding Unit Award that year for their outstanding performance while deployed, and received the same award in 2008 upon their return.