335th FS Deploys

Members of the 335th Fighter Squadron wait for their turn to process through the base’s Transportation Security Administration before boarding an aircraft bound for Afghanistan at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C., Sept. 10, 2011. This marks the first six-month deployment for the squadron since the Air Force extended the traditional four-month fighter squadron deployments to six-months. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Rae Perry)

335th FS Deploys

Members of the 335th Fighter Squadron wait in the Personnel Deployment Facility before deploying from Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C. to Afghanistan Sept. 10, 2011. Approximately 600 Airmen from 24 career fields will leave in the upcoming weeks as part of this deployment. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Rae Perry)

335th FS Deploys

Load crews work to load 335th Fighter Squadron cargo onto a chartered aircraft that will take them to Afghanistan from Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C., Sept. 10, 2011. For many Airmen, this is their first deployment, and many were not yet members of the Air Force when Sept. 11, 2001 occurred. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Rae Perry)

335th FS Deploys

Staff Sgt. Antonia Cefalu, 4th Operations Group intelligence provider, is interviewed by Airmen 1st Class Mariah Tolbert and Samantha Konieczny near the runway on Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C., Sept 10, 2011, before her deployment to Afghanistan. Crews work in the background to load all the personal cargo of the personnel that are deploying. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Rae Perry)

SJAFB deploys work force

Published Sept. 12, 2011
By Airman 1st Class Mariah Tolbert
4th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. -- On the eve of the 10th anniversary of Sept. 11, Airmen here prepared to deploy to Afghanistan.

Approximately 300 Airmen from the 335th Fighter Squadron, 4th Medical Group, 4th Mission Support Group, 4th Aircraft Maintenance squadron and the Explosive Ordinance Disposal flight deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, Sept. 10.

"Leaving on the tenth anniversary of 9/11 has special meaning to me because I was one of the first individuals over in Afghanistan after the attacks in 2001," said Lt. Col. David Moeller, 335th FS commander. "For Seymour Johnson, this is a fairly significant deployment. It is part of a normal rotation; however for about 90 percent of the folks, this is the first time they have deployed. They weren't even in the military when 9/11 actually occurred."

Seymour Johnson AFB will be deploying approximately 600 Airmen from more than 24 different career fields over the next couple of weeks.

"We are supporting Operation Enduring Freedom," said Capt. Crystal Kirkley, 335th FS weapons system officer. " That is U.S. and NATO troops going into Afghanistan to help rebuild some of the infrastructure, to protect civilians, as well as train and assist Afghan National Police and their army to be able to work on their own once U.S. and NATO pull out of Afghanistan."

"I've been in the Air Force for 16 years," Moeller said. "Deployments have just been a part of life. Seymour Johnson, the community of Goldsboro and the state of North Carolina have a very strong support for the military so I'm very comfortable leaving my family at this time."

As Airmen say "see you later" to friends and families, they can feel overwhelmed with emotions. While feelings ranged from excitement to sadness, shock and pride, Airmen from Seymour Johnson AFB are trained and prepared do their job and defend the country against terrorism.

"I'm excited, but there is a little bit of sadness there that will be initial shock just from the process of leaving," Kirkley said. "For the most part, I'm just ready to go out there, do my job and do good work,"

For many, this is not just a time to remember those who have fallen, but to remember those still fighting and protecting our country, 10 years later.