Refueling squadron, detachment deploy

  • Published
  • By Megan Just
  • 452 AMW Public Affairs
MARCH AIR RESERVE BASE, CALIF. --  Nearly half the members of the 336th Air Refueling Squadron left this week for a pair of deployments that will last until mid-January.  One deployment is to the European Command in support of combat operations in Afghanistan through Operation Enduring Freedom and the second deployment is to the Southern Command in support of drug interdiction operations.

Joining the 336 ARS on the European Command deployment are Airmen from the 452nd Operational Support Squadron, 452nd Force Support Squadron, 452nd Operations Group and 752nd Maintenance Squadron. Together, they will form the 90th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron, commanded by the 336 ARS Commander, Lt. Col. Kurt Driskill.

"We don't get to work together with some of the other squadrons on a day-to-day basis," Colonel Driskill said. "When you're deploying as a unit, you're spending a lot of time together and getting to know each other a little bit better. The irony is you have to deploy halfway around the world to get to know people who are serving on the same base with  you that you don't necessarily come into close contact with."

The detachment that is deploying to the Southern Command will be commanded by Lt. Col. Mike Heinz.

The 336 ARS last deployed as an expeditionary air refueling squadron in the late spring of 2009 where they were based at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam. Colonel Driskill said multiple aircraft and crews deployed to Southwest Asia earlier this year, supporting air operations in Afghanistan and Iraq.

The squadron also regularly deploys for 2-week air evacuation missions from Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan.

The two deployments this fall will keep Team March deployers away through Thanksgiving and the winter holidays. Colonel Driscoll thanks the family members of the deployers for their understanding and support.

He also thanks the civilian employers of deploying squadron members.

"Half of our deployers are having to leave their civilian jobs to support these missions," he said. "I can't thank the employers enough for supporting their employees for their service to the nation."