Reservists answer call to support War on Terror Published Oct. 24, 2006 By Kari Tilton 419th Fighter Wing Public Affairs HILL AIR FORCE BASE, UT -- In the five years following September 11, 2001, about 700 Hill Air Force Base reservists put their full-time careers on hold to serve in the Global War on Terrorism. Personnel from nearly every unit within the 419th Fighter Wing here have supported Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom, deploying to locations such as Balad, Air Base, Iraq; Manas Air Base, Kyrgyzstan; Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan; and Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar, to name a few. "Our reservists are a vital part of our national defense," said Col. Al Hawley, 419th FW vice commander. "Following 9/11, we have been called on to serve a very active role in the GWOT." In the years following 9/11, the president has activated, or mobilized, personnel from several 419th FW units. In October 2001, wing security forces members and firefighters were mobilized for about 18 months. In February of 2004, about 50 members of the 67th Aerial Port Squadron were mobilized for one year in support of OIF airlift missions. Eight of these aerial porters stayed on active-duty status for an additional year. "We owe our [deployed members and their families] a deep sense of gratitude for their services and sacrifice," said Col. Mark Pantone, 67th APS commander, following the return home of the final eight members of his squadron earlier this year. In the fall of 2005, transportation and security forces personnel from the wing were mobilized in support of OEF and OIF. The wing's flying role in the GWOT began shortly after 9/11 when pilots from the 466th Fighter Squadron were the first to fly F-16 missions over Afghanistan. Members of the 466th FS were deployed to Kuwait less than one month after 9/11 to fly Operation Southern Watch support missions enforcing the no-fly zone over Iraq, but were soon assigned to start flying classified combat missions in Afghanistan. The pilots destroyed important Al Qaeda assets and provided close-air support to ground troops. A couple years later, the 466th FS again became the first F-16 unit to fly combat missions over Iraq. The squadron's pilots initially flew out of Prince Sultan AB, Saudi Arabia, again flying missions in support of Operation Southern Watch. Once deployed, members were called to active-duty to participate in Operation Iraqi Freedom from a classified location. "We delivered precision-guided weapons on Iraqi command and control facilities, munitions bunkers, radar sites and other key military targets," said pilot, Lt. Col. Chris "Tunga" Morgan. 466th FS pilots supported anti-SCUD missions, time-sensitive targeting missions and close-air-support for special forces." Most recently, 419th FW pilots, maintenance and a variety of support personnel deployed to Balad, AB, Iraq where 466th FS pilots flew close-air support and combat air support missions. In addition to those who were mobilized and those who deployed in direct support of flying operations, many others in a variety of specialty areas have also deployed including civil engineering, medical, logistics, supply, communications, intelligence, services, mission support and public affairs experts. The 419th Fighter Wing is made up of about 1,400 reserve personnel. Air Force Reserve Command, as a whole, has about 76,100 reservists who train and deploy regularly. About 2,700 reservists are currently mobilized and about 2,240 volunteers are working in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Enduring Freedom, Noble Eagle and the Global War on Terrorism.