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May 4, 2006

Air National Guard unit departs for southwest Asia

Today is a day of goodbyes for the families and friends of 22 men and women in the Rhode Island Air National Guard who are expected to depart this morning for a two-month stint in southwest Asia, according to Lt. Col. Michael M. McNamara, spokesman for the Rhode Island National Guard.

Members of the 143rd Airlift Wing will meet at 8:30 a.m. at the Quonset Air National Guard Base on Airport Road in North Kingstown to conduct their final checks for equipment and baggage and to say goodbye to their families and friends before a 10 a.m. takeoff, McNamara said.

The 22 Guardsmen will fly to Greece and then on to Qatar, which will be their base of operation, McNamara said.

The Air National Guard’s 143rd Airlift Wing provides combat airlift and combat support for the coalition forces throughout the Middle East, so these servicemen and servicewomen will be transporting people and supplies all over southwest Asia with the C-130J transport aircraft, McNamara said.

These 22 members of the Air National Guard will join more than 390 Rhode Island Guardsmen on active duty. The Air National Guard tours last 60 to 90 days.

Another group of about 20 Guardsmen is nearing the end of its tour and should return home within the next few weeks after some overlap time with the new crew departing today, McNamara said.

Posted by Kate Bramson  at 8:07 AM | Permalink

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