Photo By David Miller | Members of the 9th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron pose for a group photo at Al Udeid Air...... read more read more
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QATAR - The 9th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron, deployed from Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, is airborne throughout the U.S. Air Forces Central Command area of responsibility in support of Operation Enduring Freedom flying missions nearly 24/7/365. One little known aspect of nearly every mission is the flag flying program.
The flag flying program has been going on for many years here and for the past six months, 2,179 flags have flown on B-1B Lancers throughout the AOR. It takes a team effort to make sure every flag is flown and returned to each requestor.
The 9th EBS is giving back the generous donations they have amassed and are presenting them to a unit on base that greatly impacts the AOR, the 379th Expeditionary Medical Group, Intra-Theater Care Program.
The ITCP began in 2008 with the focus of "Returning the warrior to the fight." This comprehensive program cares for soldiers, sailors, airmen, and Marines throughout the Central Command area of responsibility, supporting Operations ENDURING FREEDOM, NEW DAWN and Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa.
"The program is the only unit of its kind in the world and is vital to rehabilitating service members in the AOR," said Tech. Sgt. William Moseley, 379th EMDG, ITCP NCO in charge deployed from Joint Base San Antonio, Texas and a Chicago native.
"We have been looking at this refurbishing project and didn't expect this money but we are grateful to be receiving it now from the flag flying program," said Moseley.
Of all of the flags flown over the AOR, nearly 25 percent flew on Sept. 11, 2013.
"Our busiest day was 9/11. We flew 525 flags that day," said Master Sgt. Christopher Baker, 379th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, 9th Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Unit weapons shift lead from Lawton, Okla. "When the message was pushed out from the Chief's Group, the units became aware the program and the flags started coming in."
"Because a lot of people don't have access to the flighline, I picked up flags from all units on base and I've probably been to every building on base to make sure those that want flags flown have that opportunity," said Baker.
At the end of the rotation, the donations were tallied up and the squadron raised $9, 202.24 that will be presented to the 379th EMDG, ITCP to help service members assigned to the unit feel more comfortable and at home during their recovery time here.
"There are 12 to 15 patients assigned to the ITCP monthly," said Moseley. "We want to make them feel comfortable while they are recovering here."
U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Ricky Fyffe is one of the patients currently assigned to the ITCP said, "Tech. Sgt. Moseley does everything for us. He takes us to appointments, cares for us and provides the morale events that make being here so much better."
"The goal is to get them rehabilitated and back to their units within 30 days and we have a 93 percent return to duty rate," said Moseley. "ITCP is a force multiplier to the front line commanders."
"We come here alone and it gets lonely but he (Moseley) takes it upon himself to make it personal," said Fyffe. "He will be here early in the morning and work until the late hours spending time with patients or greeting inbound patients. To him it's not just a job."
Part of the donation will go to buy supplies to refurbish patient's rooms.
"We will spend nearly $4,500 on the refurbishing project that includes lights, blinds, paint, furniture and other items to make the rooms feel more like home," said Moseley.
"We will have members from the 379th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron and members of the 379th EMDG volunteer their time to make the project happen."
In addition to money spent on refurbishing the rooms, a morale event is held weekly.
"Our weekly morale event currently is held on Fridays where we have pizza and a movie. We are looking at incorporating a trip to the Villaggio Mall in Doha as one of the weekly events in the future," said Moseley.
"We are proud to give the donations to the ITCP and hope that the flag flying program gets even stronger on this new rotation," said Baker.
| Date Taken: | 01.24.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 01.26.2014 06:19 |
| Story ID: | 119669 |
| Location: | QA |
| Web Views: | 103 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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