Liberty Wing firefighters deploy to Iraq

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman AndriaJ. Allmond
  • 512th Public Affairs
DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. --  Eight 512th Airlift Wing firefighters deployed to Kirkuk Regional Air Base in January. 

The Liberty Wing Airmen are assigned to the 506th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron and provide base operations such as crash rescue, medical response and respond to structure and brush fires.
 
"Our mission is to come together as one group of firefighters from five different Air Force Bases and form one cohesive troupe," said Master Sgt. John Whye, Station #2 station captain. "Our job is to protect, serve and support all operations and personnel at Kirkuk Regional Air Base, including Army personnel." 

Sending a group of the 512th's finest "fire dawgs" to the Area of Responsibility is not new to the 512th Civil Engineer Squadron.
 
"At least one time a year we send out a team of six or more reservists to deploy," said Senior Master Sgt. Brian Cullen, 512th Civil Engineer Squadron deputy fire chief. "I told this group what I tell the others, keep your eyes open, heads down and listen to what you're told to do."
 
Liberty Wing firefighters are making their presence known in their new unit not just during their working hours, but also spending their off-hours volunteering. 

"Some of us volunteer at the chapel to help with acquiring and dispensing school supplies to Iraqi children," said Staff Sgt. James Herr, who works at Station #1 and #3 as station captain in the absence of the non-commissioned-officer-in-charge.
 
Operation Iraqi School Supplies is a program in which were the members of the fire departments at KRAB and other bases in Iraq volunteer to help the chapel prepare 400 bags of school supplies for children of Iraq, thus helping to foster goodwill, said Sergeant Whye.
 
"Our ability to network and participate in base functions is making a big impact on the 506th," said Staff Sgt. Daniel Slattery, who is currently assigned to Station #2 manning a crash vehicle and assisting in controlled ammunition burns.
 
Kirkuk Regional AB is home to the 506th Air Expeditionary Group. The group comprises six squadrons and more than 900 Airmen. The six 506th squadrons include the Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron, Expeditionary Communications Squadron, Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron, Expeditionary Medical Squadron, Operations Support Squadron and Security Forces Squadron.
 
The 506th AEG falls under the 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing at Balad Air Base, Iraq. According to a unit fact sheet, the 332nd AEW is considered the most forward deployed Air Force Wing in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.