GREAT FALLS, Mont. -- Approximately 100 Airmen and four C-130s from the 120th Airlift Wing, Montana Air National Guard, returned to Montana the week of Nov. 4, 2019, after a four-month deployment to Southwest Asia in support of Operation Spartan Shield. Assigned to the 385th Air Expeditionary Wing, the aircrew, aircraft maintainers, and support personnel provided airlift and airdrop operations throughout the U.S. Central Command Area of Responsibility.
“This has been a busy year for us,” said Col. Buel Dickson, 120th Airlift Wing Commander. “We’ve had nearly a third of our Airmen deploy in 2019. It takes a team to get them out the door and a team to support them while they’re gone. Fortunately, we have the outstanding support of families, friends and the community of Great Falls to make this possible.”
This scheduled rotation of aircraft and personnel was the second deployment of this type since the wing moved from fighters to transport aircraft in 2015.
“This year alone the 120th Airlift Wing has deployed to 11 different countries,” according to Dickson. “Our Airmen have received many accolades from commanders throughout their area of responsibility for their outstanding work. They represented the Montana Air National Guard and the state of Montana exceptionally well.”