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# Nebraska Airmen deploy overseas

By  Senior Master Sgt. Shannon Nielsen155th Air Refueling Wing

LINCOLN, Neb. – Airmen from the 155th Air Refueling Wing deployed March 25 to support overseas contingency operations from the Nebraska Air National Guard air base.

The deployment, scheduled 16 months ago, is part of a normal rotation where 50 Airmen traveled to U.S. Central Command, which is in charge of U.S. military operations in the Middle East.

"It is the same deployment that we've been supporting for a number of years," said Col. Robert Hargens, commander, 155th Air Refueling Wing. "We are providing aircraft refueling operations, airplanes, aircrews and maintenance personnel, as well as additional support personnel. It's really a critical resource in that theater of operations."

Hargens explained the vital roles the Nebraska Air National Guard Airmen provide while deployed.

"Our aircrew will be flying combat missions and get assigned different types of missions in a variety of different places as our maintainers are refueling, pre-flighting, launching and recovering aircraft, as well as doing all the day-to-day maintenance activities," Hargens said. "For the support personnel, they are tracking flight records and providing medical support to the crews and maintainers."

The Nebraska National Guard Airmen are replacing crews already overseas who have completed their tours. Since this is a reoccurring tour abroad, the Nebraska Air National Guard prepares for this deployment and is still able to respond to other missions if needed.

"The National Guard is always ready, so we're always responding," Hargens said. "We still maintain a very robust capability here in the state to be able to respond even with the challenges that are happening right now."

The Airmen from the 155th Air Refueling Wing have deployed multiple times a year to varying locations since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

Senior Master Sgt. Matt Ellison, boom operator, 155th Operations Group, 155th Air Refueling Wing, said many of the Airmen are eager to deploy because it enables them to focus on what they are passionate about – their jobs.

"The deployer has the easy part," Ellison said. "We get to pack up, fly halfway around the world and do what we love, which is flying and working on airplanes."

A 28-year veteran, Ellison is used to overseas missions.

"I am lucky," Ellison said. "My kids are older and are used to me deploying. My wife has only known me in deployment mode."

Even though the 155th Air Refueling Wing is deploying some Airmen, it doesn't take away from the larger Nebraska Air National Guard force in the state that supports the homeland.

"It shows that we are a flexible force," Ellison said. "Everyone in this organization has a job to do, and not a single person shied away from that job because of what is going on in the outside world. Luckily this deployment is mainly an operations and maintenance deployment, which leaves the organizations that are more heavily involved in our state mission at home."

One of the roles of the National Guard is being responsible for the defense of the nation despite the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, Hargens said.

"Due to these real-world circumstances, we have tested and refined our wing processes," said Lt. Col. Karl Durek, chief of wing plans, 155th Air Refueling Wing. "These refinements included a new streamlined 'touch-free' out-processing and deployment line created to reduce face-to-face interactions with our deployers, reducing chances for COVID-19 transmission."

The 155th Medical Group staff set up multiple stations upon receiving members to the air passenger terminal on base. Airmen passed through each station and completed the required medical screening before getting on the plane to deploy. Medical examinations added increased checks for fevers, coughs and other symptoms.

"Because of the coronavirus, we have to actually have an alternate screening process to screen members," said Tech. Sgt. Rebecca Kechley, aerospace medical technician, 155th Medical Group, 155th Air Refueling Wing.

These new screening measures helped ensure all the Airmen were healthy and able to deploy. If an Airman failed one of the screening measures, they would not have been able to board the plane.

"It's really just an absolutely amazing testament to the Airmen that we have here in the Nebraska Air National Guard," Hargens said. "Even despite challenges, many of them have difficult situations with their families going on right now, and yet that doesn't dissuade them from being the first to raise their hand and volunteering to do whatever is asked of them."

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