Maintenance window scheduled to begin at February 14th 2200 est. until 0400 est. February 15th

(e.g. yourname@email.com)

Forgot Password?

    Defense Visual Information Distribution Service Logo

    First active duty C-130J deploys to AOR

    First active duty C-130J deploys to AOR

    Courtesy Photo | The 379th Air Expeditionary Wing welcomed the newest member of its fleet, Feb. 8, as...... read more read more

    (UNDISCLOSED LOCATION)

    02.09.2008

    Courtesy Story

    379th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs

    by 2nd Lt. Tania Bryan
    379th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
    SOUTHWEST ASIA -- The 379th Air Expeditionary Wing welcomed the newest member of its fleet today as the first active duty C-130J deployed to the area of responsibility landed in Southwest Asia.

    "We're not only the first active duty, C-130J deployment, it's also a record-setting event," said Lt. Col. Dan Tulley, 41st Airlift Squadron commander. "We stood up two squadrons, people and airplanes, and deployed in ten months."

    It's not like the squadron has been in-place at Little Rock. The 41st AS moved to Little Rock from Pope last year. We stood up and converted to a new weapon system at the same time, and literally built our unit from the ground up--starting April 5, 2007, and here we are, already deployed, the colonel said.

    The arrival of the aircraft also marks the creation of a new bond. The C-130Js from the 41st AS will combine with C-130Es from Little Rock's 61st AS and Pope's 2nd AS, as well as C-130Hs from the Air Force Reserve Command's 357th AS at Maxwell Air Force Base to form the 746th AS here. The squadron will reactivate in mid-February.

    Combining the reserve and active duty squadrons into one cohesive unit, creates a unique opportunity for the crews to learn from one another. Taking four distinct squadrons that do not normally work together at their home stations, and uniting them in a deployed environment, may seem like a daunting task, but Tulley says the strengths each of them bring to the fight far surpasses any challenges they will have to overcome.

    The C-130J entered the Herc family in 1999 to replace the aging C-130E. Although the J model has deployed to the AOR before, this deployment is significant because it's a total force effort, the colonel said.

    "We get to play off of the strengths of each other," he said. "AFRC brings a lot of experience and between the different units; Maxwell, Pope and Little Rock, [working together] should be a great opportunity to share knowledge and expertise on handling a C-130 in combat."

    We have already seen what the J model's capabilities are through defense training over the past ten months and now we are looking forward to testing the aircraft in combat, Tulley said.

    "The J model has much longer legs and a much greater lift capacity because of the extra two pallet positions. It's also very reliable because it is brand new," Tulley said. "[The C-130J model] has been lucky enough to be among the first to get the benefit of being recapitalized."

    LEAVE A COMMENT

    NEWS INFO

    Date Taken: 02.09.2008
    Date Posted: 02.09.2008 07:29
    Story ID: 16182
    Location: (UNDISCLOSED LOCATION)

    Web Views: 197
    Downloads: 174

    PUBLIC DOMAIN