Redeployment team stays back, processes 161 tons of cargo, equipment

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Rachel Waller
  • 100th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
ROYAL AIR FORCE MILDENHALL, England --  More than 100 Airmen from the 100th Air Refueling Wing returned home from deployment after the successful completion of NATO-led Operation Unified Protector from western Europe, but a handful of Airmen remained behind to perform cargo deployment functions and site closure duties.

These 11 Airmen from the 100th Logistics Readiness Squadron and 100th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron make up the redeployment team.

Air Force Instruction 10-403 Deployment Planning and Execution, states "redeployment applies to onward or forward deployment as well as returning to home station which has been established to sustain an operation."

The AFI merely lays out the guidelines for redeployment but the actual task is hands-on and very grueling said Capt. Jerry Yarrington, 351st Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron mission support director of operations.

"I needed motivated, hard charging individuals that believe in getting a job done safely and efficiently," added Yarrington.

The redeployment team's efforts began Nov. 1 when the 351st EARS received notification from 3rd Air Force to redeploy. The redeployment process is expected to last through Nov. 17.

"We utilized organic airlift to move as many non-mission essential personnel to home station as possible," said Yarrington, after receiving the redeployment orders.

By Nov. 4, the redeployment team had redeployed 116 personnel to RAF Mildenhall using KC-135 Stratotankers.

After the personnel left, all that remained was cargo and equipment.

"In accordance with transportation guidance and higher headquarters' direction, we're utilizing the most cost-effective mode of transportation to meet the required delivery date for the cargo and equipment remaining on station -- commercial trucks," said Yarrington.

Yarrington said that 25 commercial trucks will haul 161 tons of cargo back to RAF Mildenhall.

"I am proud of the safe, efficient manner in which our team has accomplished this mission," said Yarrington. "We were able to collect, transport, palletize, process, and load 25 truckloads of supplies and equipment in less than 16 days. This was no small task, considering aircraft maintenance and flying operations continued until the last aircraft departed the station."