SELFRIDGE AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, MICH - Approximately 300 members of the 127th Wing have deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom to undisclosed locations in Southwest Asia.

More than 275 members of the 127th Operations and Maintenance Groups, including the 107th Fighter Squadron, deployed this week. Also reporting for duty in separate deployments were about twenty airmen from the 127th Civil Engineering Squadron and the 127th Medical Group. The large group of personnel and equipment, including Michigan Air National Guard F-16 Fighting Falcons, will remain overseas for about 45 days, with some members expecting to be deployed for 120 days.

Brig. Gen. Michael L. Peplinski, commander of the 127th Wing, says that the unit has been committed to this deployment for months. "The airmen of the 127th Wing are trained and ready to carry out the missions in front of them.  With the support of our families, community, and employers we will excel in these deployments and all our airmen will return home safely."

The deployment has been anticipated for months as part of the unit's Air Combat Command Air Expeditionary Force (AEF) cycle in which scheduled units are required to support both forward presence missions and short-notice taskings. Air National Guard units generally know more than a year in advance when they are committed to an AEF tasking, allowing members and their employers to structure work schedules to enable participation.