Edwards Security Forces Airmen Head Down Range

  • Published
  • By Kenji Thuloweit
  • 95th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  On a windy and frigid March 10 morning, base leadership and the 95th Security Forces Squadron said goodbye and good luck to about 40 Security Forces Airmen from Edwards.

The Airmen are part of a regular rotation of security forces deployments which conduct area security operations such as base security and defense down range. The two teams from 95th SFS will be assigned to Bagram, Air Base, Afghanistan.

Staff Sgt. Brandy Singleton, 95th SFS desk sergeant, has been to Iraq five times but this is her first mission to Afghanistan so it's a new experience.

"I'm excited, never been there before," Sergeant Singleton said. "I'll be getting away from the base, doing a different mission."

But even to an experienced veteran like Sergeant Singleton, being away from her parents and three sisters here in California is what someone never gets used to.

"Just being away from family," Sergeant Singleton said when asked what her biggest challenge will be.

About half the Airmen on this deployment have never been deployed, so they'll be looking to Sergeant Singleton's leadership.

Airman 1st. Class Robert Petty, a patrolman with the squadron, said he's going to miss his wife and three children but he's ready for the mission.

"It's probably not going to hit me until I leave but I'm ready as I'll ever be," said Airman Petty. "We're prepared, we'll communicate."

Airman Petty's wife, Crystal, says the support here on Edwards has been great and she's ready as well.

"I'm OK with his deployment," she said. "It's part of his job and I don't see it as a negative thing. We have one of the best spouses support groups I have ever heard of."

Lillian Weber, wife of Senior Airman Eric Webber, also praised the support for the spouses here at home.

"The squadron and the spouses are our other family," Mrs. Webber said.

In all, the Airmen are scheduled to be deployed for 180 days in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.