Black Knights fire up OJE missions

  • Published
  • By Arlo Taylor
  • 19th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
LITTLE ROCK AIR FORCE BASE, Ark. --  Two C-130 aircraft and more than 40 Airmen from the 19th Airlift Wing, including 20 from the 50th Airlift Squadron, deployed Dec. 7 to Ramstein Air Base, Germany, in support of U.S. European Command Operation Joint Enterprise missions.

The C-130 crews and maintainers supporting Joint Enterprise will work together to airlift cargo to locations in the U.S. Europe Command, U.S. Africa Command and U.S. Central Command theaters of operations as part of the 38th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron. For three-quarters of the deployers, it will be their first time flying in the European theater.

"Everyone's looking forward to this deployment. It offers our crews an opportunity to learn to fly with European flight rules and organizations. For a lot of our people, this will be their first time flying at Ramstein," said Capt. Metodi Roulev, 50th AS executive officer.

The squadron's dedication to training has prepared the Red Devils for the wide range of missions they will fly, said Lt. Col. Nate Allerheiligen, 50th AS commander.

"The standard training plan for all of our crews is to prepare them for any mission to any location at any time," he said. "Herk crews have always been reknown for the 'can-do' attitude and ability to operate independently in remote and austere environments. Regardless of the location or the mission, our crews are ready."

While the deployment does come on the cusp of the holiday season, the 50th AS family is already at work taking care of the families left behind. The key spouse program helps keep squadron leadership in touch with family members by calling them at least two times per month. The squadron also sponsors at least two family events per month to let families know they're sacrifices aren't forgotten.

"Our families are our life-blood and foundation for our deployed members," Colonel Allerheiligen said. "I'm very proud of the men and women of the Fightin' Five-0. They are a marvelous group of dedicated Airmen who execute our mission of Combat Airlift with excellence every day."