Summit of Americas support added to Nomad history

  • Published
  • By Chrissy Cuttita
  • Team Eglin Public Affairs
EGLIN AIR FORCE, Fla. --  Ten F-15s and 125 personnel from the 33rd Fighter Wing returned this week from a 15-day deployment providing aerial security support for Summit of the Americas conference. 

Wing members operated from Port Salines International Airport, Grenada, where a Joint Task Force set up a bare base. 

"It was a sensational team effort by everyone involved and we were able to meet all of our taskings without missing a beat," said Col. Greg Riemens Van Laare, 33rd Operations Group commander, who led the of approximately 190 Airmen from 10 different bases plus international partners. "During the SOA we flew 51 sorties, to include our round trip, and over 270 flying hours. I am extremely proud of the professionalism displayed by every Airman on this deployment."

The international airport had no taxiways or equipment designed to support fighter operations before the team arrived. As a result, Airmen started arriving March 27 to survey and set up a bare base. They took four tons of equipment with them and support needed to establish 24-hour security protection each day they were in place. 

While jets were down, several members from the 33rd Maintenance Group interacted with the community visiting with residents of Father Mallighan's Boys Home in Victoria, Grenada. Children, ages 7 to 17, had the opportunity to teach the Airmen how to play cricket. 

"It's amazing to see how happy the boys were despite their circumstances", said Senior Airman Anthony Newman. "Events like these help create positive and lasting impressions with the children and residents of Grenada. As the evening drew to a close, it was clear that both the Airmen and boys had created memories that will last a lifetime."
Wherever the President travels, a contingent of Department of Defense personnel provide appropriate support as requested by the White House and State. All work together with host nations to ensure the safety of these visits. Grenada's Prime Minister, Honorable Tillman Thomas, several members of his national security staff, and local media even visited Airmen at the base. 

Since the end of December 2008, the 33rd FW has been busy protecting the President of the U.S. during Operation Noble Eagle missions as part of their Air Expeditionary Force cycle.

"We flew nine ONE taskings protecting the president and a space shuttle launch this AEF," said Colonel Riemens Van Laare. "Deploying to Grenada to support the SOA, gives us a grand total of ten this AEF period."

With the recent trip to Grenada, the 30-year era of F-15s at the 33rd FW goes full circle in combat deployments. The airfield they operated from this month is the same place the wing prepared for combat in 1983. After Operation Urgent Fury, eight F-15s forward deployed to Puerto Rico for an air defense mission.

Even though they never needed to go war, the record shows it was the unit's first combat deployment with F-15s. The aircraft transitioned into the wing in 1978, replacing F-4s, and this April's journey south was the last combat deployment they will fly with F-15s.
Aircraft drawdown is halfway to completion in preparation to transition to the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter in October.