JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. - More than 130 Airmen from the McChord Field 

are due to return Thursday to Joint Base Lewis-McChord after a 120-day 

deployment in support of Operations Enduring Freedom, New Dawn, Odyssey Dawn 

and Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa.

During their deployment, the C-17 squadron moved more than 33,984 passengers 

and delivered more than 81 million pounds of cargo to include 9,635 bundles 

with a combined weight of more than 15 million pounds on 280 drop zones.

The Airmen, comprised mostly from the 7th Airlift Squadron, were deployed as 

the 816th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron.  Their mission was to provide global 

strategic airlift, airdrop, aeromedical evacuation and humanitarian relief, to 

create an air bridge for personnel, equipment and supplies throughout the 

assigned areas of responsibility.

The 62 Airlift Wing's four active duty flying squadrons share responsibility 

for the deployed squadron and rotate operating the 816 EAS continuously.  The 

deployments allow Air Mobility Command to consistently position assets closer 

to the action.