Operations Group supports six different deployed locations in 2008

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Tammy Cario
  • 911 AW/PA
PITTSBURGH AIR RESERVE STATION --  The moment Capt. Diane Ohm, a pilot with the 758th Airlift Squadron, hit the ground at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar, she was off and running. 

"On our way to the dining facility one night, we were alerted that we had to fly. I had my hand on the door when the phone rang," Capt. Ohm said. "From the phone call to the plane, we were in the air within 32 minutes." With an hour's time allotted, they made it in half that time. "It was all possible through the dedication of the support staff," she said.
Capt. Ohm was one of 86 people deployed from the 911th Operations Group in 2008. They deployed to six different locations, some as far away as Al Udeid while others stayed stateside, a little closer to home. 

Tech. Sgt. Kevin Shaffer, a health services manager with the 911th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron, was deployed to Scott Air Force Base, Ill., for four months. In support of Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom, Tech. Sgt. Shaffer helped take wounded warriors from Scott AFB, where they had been treated after returning from the desert, to their home station. 

"I was able to help in some of the patient movements. I helped ready the plane for the litters and I helped to transport the patients to the plane," said Tech. Sgt. Shaffer. "I was part of the process in getting the wounded warriors home where they needed to be."
For Lt. Col. Richey, the Director of Operations for the 758th AS deployed to Ramstein, Germany, his mission was to support the peacekeeping efforts in the Balkans. 

"During our deployment, our crews were tasked with twice as many missions as the previous rotation," said Lt. Col. Richey. "We transported people and cargo to Africa and Israel. I flew a mission that transported a rotation of people to Kosovo who were doing ground duties as part of the peacekeeping mission." 

This deployment, called Operation Joint Enterprise, was a good experience, according to Lt. Col. Richey. "We worked side by side with our active duty brethren to accomplish various missions," he said. "The flying opportunity that we were given enhanced our readiness capabilities and exposed our crews to missions we wouldn't normally fly."
For Capt. Ohm, seeing a familiar face while on a mission was a good experience as well. 

"We flew a critically wounded soldier to the hospital on Balad Air Base, Iraq, for one of our missions," said Capt. Ohm. "We were greeted by some friendly faces of the 911th Airlift Wing medical staff who were deployed there. It was great to see people abroad that we work with at home."