More than 125 U.S. Air Force Airmen and C-130 Hercules from the Minnesota National Guard’s 133rd Airlift Wing will deploy to the U.S. Africa Command area of responsibility this week.
“It’s exciting to head off and perform our federal mission,” said U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Brandon Moore, Commander of the 109th Airlift Squadron. “We have flyers, maintainers, and support staff trained for almost a year to prepare themselves for the deployment. We spent countless hours flying, preparing aircraft, and completing ground training. To put those skills to use, flying real-world missions is gratifying. Becoming part of the 109th Airlift Squadron’s long and storied history stretching back over a hundred years is extremely rewarding.”
The primary mission of the C-130 Hercules is to transport cargo and personnel, which is what the Airmen will be responsible for overseas.
The 133rd Airlift Wing has a proud heritage as part of the Minnesota National Guard. It was the first federally recognized aviation squadron in the United States. The 133rd Airlift Wing celebrated their 100th year in January 2021.
About the Minnesota National Guard
Established in 1856 and headquartered in St. Paul, the Minnesota National Guard has more than 13,000 Soldiers and Airmen who serve in 58 communities across the state. The Citizen-Soldiers and Airmen of the Minnesota National Guard are ‘Always Ready’ to fight the nation’s wars, protect the country, respond to state emergencies, and contribute to local communities.
For more information about the Minnesota National Guard, visit https://MinnesotaNationalGuard.ng.mil.
