Military

457th Air Expeditionary Group Public Affairs

ROYAL AIR FORCE FAIRFORD, England (USAFENS) - Approximately 400 airmen arrived here March 7, bringing the number deployed to more than 800.

The group, the bulk of which consist of airmen from Minot Air Force Base, N.D., deployed here to support the war on terrorism and any possible future contingency operations.

"I'm glad these airmen are here," said Col. Daniel Charchian, 457th Air Expeditionary Group commander. "Their arrival gives us the ability to do whatever mission we may be called upon to perform."

A majority of the airmen who arrived are maintenance personnel, including flightline and backshop crews. For some, RAF Fairford is their first deployment; for others, coming here is just part of the job.

"The deployment lines both here, and at Minot, are pretty much normal - long," said Chief Master Sgt. Mark Brown, 457th AEW aircraft maintenance superintendent. "It was a good flight. Everyone was ready to go, and everything has gone smoothly so far."

Brown estimates the number of deployments in his career to be "around 20, maybe more."

Most of the airmen coming from Minot have experienced at least one deployment, as a majority of them just came back from deployment in December. But for those who've never deployed before, the chief said the more seasoned airmen have been the voice of experience.

"Our supervisors are really taking care of their airmen," Chief Brown said. "Those who've deployed before guided new airmen through the deployment process, getting paperwork, answering questions and ensuring the airmen were taken care of, personally and professionally."

Airman 1st Class Zoua Vong, also deployed from Minot, is on her second deployment in six months.

"At first we were unsure if we were coming, but we were told weeks ago to be prepared." She said. "It went back and forth until we were told we were coming and it was official - then we had just one day to make the final preparations."

But, although the official word on the deployment was short notice, Vong said she was happy to be here because the weather is much better here than at Minot.

Deployed airmen are slated to be here 179 days, or until the mission is complete -whatever mission they are called upon to perform.